Hindu Temple Badrinath Dham: The Abode of Lord Vishnu

Badrinath or Badri Vishal is undeniably one of the most mystical and important places of Vishnu worship. Resting along the bank of Alaknanda River and set against the backdrop of the scenic and towering Nar and Narayan mountains. Nar and Narayan are said to have been prior incarnations of Shri Krishna and Arjun of Treta Yuga. Rarely is another pilgrimage shrine referred to as ‘Ashrama.’ Badrinath’s being referred to as Badrikashrama is an allusion to the many saints who sought the land for their meditative practices - Nar & Narayan; Ved Vyas; Vasishta; Kanwa; Shankaracharya; Varadacharya. In fact, even the idol of Vishnu worshipped here is seated in padmasana!

Best Ways to Explore Hindu Temple Badrinath Dham

Badrinath Yatra forms an integral part of three pilgrimage trajectories in India. These are Char Dham of India initiated by Shankaracharya (Puri, Rameswaram, Dwaraka, Badrinath) Himalayan or Chota Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) and Panch Badri. No wonder the pilgrimage shrine receives such great inflow of pilgrims every year.

The self-manifested idol of Badrinarayan was recovered from a recess in Alakananda River known as Narad Kund by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century. He had decreed that the major priest of Badrinath ought to be from Namboothiri community in Kerala, so as to ensure that people can overlook the North-South divide and learn to function from a more unified Indian consciousness. Badrinath finds its mention in many Puranic texts like Skanda Purana and Vishnu Purana.

Apart from Lord Vishnu, the temple also has idols of Navdurga, Nar & Narayan, Narada, Uddhava, Kubera, Lakshmi, Garuda, Lakshmi Narsimhar, Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Vedanta Desika.

How to Reach

Badrinath is easily accessible via 3 modes.

The journey to Badrinath starts from Haridwar by road where you can get your own car, take a bus or you can even choose to rent a taxi from Haridwar, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Delhi.

These days, many choose to opt for Badrinath Yatra by Helicopter services that land them near the shrine without much ado. The pleasure of flying over the majestic Himalayan peaks is indeed an added advantage.

What to Do in and Around Badrinath?

Well, worshipping at the shrine forms the crux of one’s schedule in Badrinath. But there is so much more to do in Badrinath. Brahma Kapal is a site, that is venerated within the temple premises as the abode of Lord Brahma wherein rites to propitiate dead ancestors are performed.

The nearby Mana village popularly referred to as India’s last village due to its location on the Indo-Tibetan border, is the major attraction in and around Badrinath. The serene village has a lot of sacred spots strewn within its contours. Vyas Gufa and Ganesha Gufa Caves, as well as Saraswati River are among some of the sacred spots. Historians believe that Ved Vyas wrote 18 Puranas and Mahabharata in this quaint village. Vyas and Ganesha caves are named after Lord Ganesha remnants of the same historical affair.

Best Time to Visit

Badrinath Dham is open to Darshan only during half a year. Due to its location in an icy cold locale, winters make the site particularly inaccessible during which Badrinarayan accepts Joshimath his winter abode. The shrine is open from May - October, although it is advisable to avoid visiting the shrine during the monsoon season. Thus the ideal time to visit would be May, June (before the onset of Monsoon), September (post-monsoon) and October.

Accommodation in Badrinath

One needs to worry about where to stay near Hindu temple Badrinath Dham. There are ample facilities to accommodate pilgrims provided one has booked in advance. If you are traveling during the peak pilgrim season; it can prove quite difficult to find a room without prior booking.

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