The holy abode of Lord Vishnu is nestled among Nar and Narayan Himalayan ranges. This highly revered town where you can imbibe the spirituality is located in the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. Badrinath is adorned with beautiful imposing peaks, natural beauty, consecrated ponds, and pictorial panoramas which offer you an amazing place where you can seek peace and pleasure. The town is reckoned by Badrinath Temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand. It is among the four sacred pilgrimage sites covered under Chota Char Dham Yatra. The temple is dedicated to Lord Badri (Vishnu) and the temple is closed during winter season. Due to its high altitude location, it offers you many adventurous and exciting activities to enjoy. Badrinath Helicopter Service plays a key role in transforming your tedious journey into an enjoyable and less time consuming journey.
Places to visit in and around Badrinath- Being a religious destination, it has many temples and caves located near to it. It also has many other sightseeing destinations to explore like the majestic Mana Village, Vasudhara Falls and many more.
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Badrinath Temple- A sacred temple of Lord Vishnu which is situated at an elevation of 3133 meters above the sea level and is counted among one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in India. The temple is situated on the river bank of Alaknanda (left side). The temple was constructed by great saint Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Singh Dwara which is the main entrance of the temple is the major attraction of this temple. The main idol of the temple is of Lord Vishnu who is seated in a meditative gesture which is sculpted with black stone and there are other 15 idols present in the temple which are of different gods.
Brahma Kapal- This divine ghat is located inside the vicinity of the Badrinath Temple and is situated on the banks of the Alaknanda River. It is one of those sacred places where Hindu devout come and pay their homage and Shraddha to the dead soul of their ancestors. It is believed that Lord Brahma exists here and he blesses the devotees with salvation from the cycle of birth and death. It is situated just at a distance of 100 meters to the north of the Badrinath Temple and is surrounded by several other nearby temples including Mata Murthy Temple, Charanpaduka Temple etc.
Tapt Kund – A natural hot water spring located at a distance of 1 km from the Badrinath Bus Stand and is situated at the entrance of the Badrinath Temple. It is believed that this is the holy abode of Lord Agni and is known or famous for its medicinal values. As per the tradition the devotees have to take a dip into this holy hot water spring before entering the temple. This is a wonder among tourists that how the water remains hot in such cold weather and the temperature of the water is 45 degree Celsius. There are 5 big stones surrounding the Kund which are called as PanchShila and are considered sacred by the devotees.
Vasudhara Falls- One of the most popular trekking destinations in Uttarakhand which is located 6 km from the beautiful Mana Village and also not so far from Badrinath. This splendid waterfall is surrounded by beautiful lofty peaks and lush green meadows that enchant the mood of a traveler. Waterfalls from a great height of 400 feet flowing between the rocks and there is a belief that the water of this magnificent waterfall turns away from those people who are not of pure heart. If you observe the water falling from the hills then it seems like milk is flowing down from the mountain.
Charan Paduka- A beautiful and holy rock which is situated at an altitude of 3,380 feet above the sea level and is located at a distance of 3 km from the Badrinath Temple. The foot impressions of Lord Vishnu make it more inviting to the tourists coming from all across the globe. One more legend is mentioned in the Bhagwat Purana according to which Lord Krishna suggested Uddhav who was his minister to visit Badrinath with the Charanpaduka in a way to get rid of his committed mistakes. It is an unflinching faith and belief among Hindu devout that if they visit this sacred rock then they will be free from all the ailments and other problems.
Narad Kund- This hot water spring is considered as the second prime attraction of Badrinath which is beautifully adorned in the revered town of Badrinath and is situated very near to the holy Tapt Kund. It is believed that this is the same place where a famous and great saint Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Vishnu and so this place holds a religious significance on Hinduism. Hindu legend states that this is the place where Narad Muni composed Bhakti Sutra and this is how the place got its name. A rock covers this recess in Alaknanda River and prevents the flow of water. Devotees take a holy dip in this hot water spring before entering the temples.
Nilkantha Peak- Also called as Garhwal Queen is a pyramid-shaped snowy peak located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and at a distance of 9 km from Badrinath. This imposing Himalayan peak is perched at an altitude of 6597 meters above the sea level and is considered as one of the best trekking trails in Uttarakhand. The peak has been named after Lord Shiva and from a certain distance, it seems like Lord Shiva is sitting in a meditative pose. It is considered as a major peak of the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges which receives the first ray of the glimmering the entire valley beautifully.
Best time to visit Badrinath- You can plan your trip to Badrinath all throughout the year but May to October is the most ideal to visit Badrinath as it experiences quite pleasing and favorable atmosphere during this time.
