Badrinath

Badrinath

One of the most popular pilgrimages in India and an inevitable part of the Char Dham yatra, Badrinath is amongst the most visited religious destinations in India. Situated at an altitude of 3300 metres in Uttarakhand, the Badrinath temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu. The temple remains closed during the winters because of extreme cold conditions, the devotees can visit the temple from April to October/November. One must visit Badrinath once in a lifetime to experience devotion, spirituality and nature all at once.

History

The history of Badrinath temple is related to Lord Vishnu who is the preserver in the Hindu religion. It is believed that God Vishnu sat in meditation at the Badrinath temple. While he was in meditation, Goddess Lakshmi protected him from the cold weather conditions in the form of the Badri tree. Hence the name is derived from the tree. Vishnu in the form of Badrinath is depicted in the temple sitting in his meditation posture.

The Badrinath temple is made of wood and black stone and the architecture of the temple is very charming. There is no record how old the temple is but it definitely leaves the visitors in awe because of its beauty.

Visit the Badrinath temple and Tapt Kund

Badrinath temple can be reached by vehicles and there isn’t any substantial trekking or walking required. Once you reach there via Rudraprayag and Joshimath, visit the temple, worship Lord Vishnu in the most beautiful settings. Then visit the Tapt Kund which is a natural hot water spring and take a dip in there. Therapeutic baths here are known for curing ailments.

Valley of Flowers

You can visit the Valley of Flowers if you are going to Badrinath. You can drive for about one hour and reach the Valley of Flowers base, it is approximately 25 km away from Badrinath. Once you reach the base by any vehicle, you will have to trek for 18 km to reach the destination and enjoy the very scenic views of the Valley of Flowers.

Hemkund Sahib

Another pilgrimage around Badrinath temple is Hemkund Sahib which is a Sikh pilgrimage site in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The distance between Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib is about 42 km. You can take a vehicle to reach Ghangaria which is the base for Hemkund Sahib and then trek to reach the Gurudwara. If you are visiting Badrinath you can definitely plan an extended journey to Hemkund Sahib, Valley of Flowers and Badrinath altogether.

Vasudhara Falls

One of the most scenic places around Badrinath is the Vasudhara falls. Situated at the Mana Village, Vasudhara falls is a very beautiful fall set in the middle of the mountains. It is said that Pandavas rested here before heading to heaven.