Badrinath Dham Travel Guide
Badrinath is one of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites among the 108 divya desams incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath town is also the part of Panch Badri temples including Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri, along with Badrinath Dham.
The temple is situated in the tranquil valley of the Garhwal Himalayas, along the banks of the Alaknanda River. Badrinath town is renowned for its breathtaking beauty, pleasant weather, snow-capped mountains, and the holy river flowing through lush green valleys. Its stunning scenery draws pilgrims and tourists from across India and around the world.
Many festival like Kedar-Badri Utsav, Janam-ashtami, Mata Mruti Ka Mela are celebrated in Badrinath valley. Along with Badrinath temple, there are many place of sightseeing namely Panch Prayag temple, Badhri Naryanan Temple, Vasudhara Falls, Ttapt Kund (hot water spring), Bheem Pul, Mana Village etc.
Badrinath Temple Opening and Closing Date 2025
Badrinath Kapat Opening Date 2025: The opening date for Badrinath Temple will be updated soon. Last year Badrinath Temple was opened on 12 May 2024 at 6 am in the morning. An estimated 20,000 pilgrims visited Badrinath dham on the opening day.
You can book your Badrinath Dham Yatra with us, visit our Char Dham Tour Packages
Badrinath Closing Date 2024: The portals of Shri Badrinath Temple were closed for winters on 17 Nov 2024 at 09:07 pm. With the closing of Badrinath Temple, the Char Dham Yatra 2024 has concluded.
Badrinath is one of the most popular and visited religious towns of the Hindus located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in India. The town of Badrinath lies between Nar and Naryana mountain ranges and in the shadow of the mighty Neelkantha peak. The several turquoise lakes, towering peaks, sacred ponds and water bodies make Badrinath a must visit place.
Photo:
Sirsendu Gayen | Snow fall at Badrinath - Devotees are waiting for their turn to enter in the Badrinath temple.
Day to Day Travel Itinerary to Badrinath Dham
If you are an individual and want to travel to Badrinath alone, then it isn’t a huge task to achieve. Badrinath is situated at the roadside and the only thing you need to know is how to reach that location. Below is the day to a day travel guide to Badrinath Dham for solo travelers.
Day 0: Reach to Rishikesh / Haridwar or Dehradun
Badrinath is situated in Uttarakhand so firstly you have to reach this state of India. The Nearest railway station to Badrinath is Rishikesh railway station. However, you can book your train to Haridwar too as train availability is higher there. If you are coming from the south, east or west portion of the country then there is a high chance that you are coming from the flight to Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun. Rishikesh has situated just about 20 km from Dehradun.
Note: Try to reach these cities in the sharp morning so that you can start your journey to Badrinath temple in the morning.
Day 1: Rishikesh to Badrinath / Joshimath. 295 km | 10 Hrs
There are lots of buses and sharable cabs you can find at Rishikesh Bus Stand going towards Badrinath. But it is very hard to get them because of the extremely high numbers of pilgrimages traveling to the same destination. The best way to reach Badrinath is by changing buses or sharable cabs.
You can break your journey to avoid the wait for the direct vehicle to Badrinath. You can take bus/sharable Tata Sumo / Maxx to Rudraprayag and then Rudraprayag to Joshimath. You can stay at Joshimath which has plenty of accommodation, food & market facilities. However, if you have plenty of time then you can get to Badrinath town directly which is just 45km (2hrs) route from Joshimath.
You can follow this route buses or sharable Jeeps to reach Badrinath
Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Karnaprayag – Chamoli – Joshimath – Badrinath
eUttaranchal travel tip 1: Because of ongoing Char Dham highway project, you can face a delay in reaching Badrinath. In this case you can break your journey for two days. You can stay on all the above-mentioned towns of the route.
Day 2: Visit Badrinath Temple & Nearby locations
Wake up early in the morning, attend the temple aarti & pay your obeisance at Badrinath temple. It can take 2-3 hours for Darshan because of the long queue. After that, you can visit nearby locations like Vasudhara falls or Mana village which is also the last Indian village at Indo – China border. You can also visit nearby tourist destinations of Uttarakhand like Auli & Valley of flowers to utilize your time.
Day 3: Badrinath to Rishikesh / Haridwar
Bid adieu to this beautiful spiritual town of Uttarakhand situated on the bank of calm Alaknanda River. Take sharable jeeps to Joshimath for more transport options.
Badrinath Temple - Mystic Tales and Legends
According to legend, the temple was originally established by Adi Shankaracharya which was renovated several times after its establishment. Badrinath is also one of the Panch Badri. The other four badris are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri.
The Badrinath area is known as Badari or Badarikaashram in Hindu scriptures. It is a place sacred to Vishnu, particularly in Vishnu's dual form of Nara-Narayana. Thus, in the Mahabharata, Krishna, addressing Arjuna, says, "Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with Narayana for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years."
Photo: Lakshmanrawat. River Alaknanda flowing through the Badrinath valley.
One legend has it that when goddess Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help the suffering humanity, the earth was unable to withstand the force of her descent. Therefore the mighty Ganga (Ganges) was split into twelve holy channels, with Alaknanda being one of them.
The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the Mahabharata, where the Pandavas are said to have ended their life by ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini - literally, the 'Ascent to Heaven'. Local legend has it that the Pandavas passed through Badrinath and the town of Mana, 4 km north of Badrinath, on their way to Swarga (heaven). There is also a cave in Mana where the great sage Ved Vyasa is believed to have written the epic Mahabharata.
Places to See in Badrinath
Badrinath Travel News
08 Dec 2024
First snowfall of the season in Uttarakhand from Musooorie - Dhanaulti to Auli
From Kedarnath to Auli, Dhanaulti to Mussoorie, the first snowfall of the season has occurred. Light snowfall started in the high altitude areas of the state from Sunday evening. The first snowfall of the season occurred on Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Harshil, Chopta, Tungnath, Suki Top, Auli and Mussoorie and other peaks.
08 Dec 2024
Winter Char Dham Yatra Inauguration by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, inaugurated the Winter Char Dham Yatra. He emphasized the tourism boost and job creation that the yatra brings, while urging tourists to visit various sites in the region. Dhami inspected arrangements and promised better facilities. The event took place at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Rudraprayag district, marking the temple as the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath. Know more about Char Dham Yatra.
20 Nov 2024
Char Dham Yatra 2024 Concludes
With the closing of Badrinath Temple on 17 Nov, the Char Dham Yatra for year 2024 has concluded. Over 46.17 lakh pilgrims visited Char Dham this year.
| Dham | No. of Pilgrims |
| Kedarnath | 16,52,076 |
| Badrinath | 14,35,341 |
| Gangotri | 8,15,273 |
| Yamunotri | 7,14,755 |
29 Oct 2024
Deepawali Will Be Celebrated On November 1 At Badrinath Dham
25 Oct 2024
Actor Vishnu Manchu visited Kedarnath-Badrinath ahead of Kannappa release
Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu, accompanied by his team, went on a pilgrimage to Kedarnath and Badrinath to seek blessings for his upcoming film, Kannappa. Mohanlal, Prabhas and Akshay Kumar have cameos in the movie.
Badrinath Travel Tips
- Please respect the place by refraining from alcohol and non-vegetarian food in the Holy Town of Badrinath.
- At an elevation of more than 3000 metres, the weather at Badrinath is always chilly no matter when you are visiting. It is advisable to carry ample woolen clothing.
- The pilgrimage to Badrinath is not as arduous as Kedarnath, however it is normal to feel little dizzy due to low oxygen content in the air. Make sure to get yourself checked with a physician prior to the pilgrimage.
- Photography may be prohibited inside the temple, especially inside sanctum sanctorum. Please abide by the guidelines outlined by temple authorities.
- Travelling to Uttarakhand in monsoons is little risky as the region witness road blockages due to frequent landslides. Best time to visit Badrinath is from May-April and September-October.
Staying in Badrinath
Badrinath has ample accommodations to stay, from the frugal dharamshalas to affordable guesthouses to 3-star hotels, it is easy to find a place to stay in Badrinath, if you are travelling in off-season.
As thousands of devotees ascent to the revered Badrinath shrine during the peak season, even finding a bed could be a task, let alone a room to stay. It is advisable to book an accommodation at Joshimath which is 45 kms from Badrinath. You can make a day trip to Badrinath and return to Joshimath by evening.
Badrinath Food Guide
At an elevation of 3,300 meters, not many restaurants could be found and only a handful of seasonal local eating joints and stalls tend to serve the pilgrims and tourists. The food served here is North Indian cuisine and popular Chinese delicacies with limited choices. Due to the religious significance of the place, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited at Badrinath.
History of Badrinath
In the 9th century, the holy town of Badrinath was re-established as a prominent pilgrim site by Guru Adi Shankaracharya. In the early years, the pilgrims used to walk hundreds of miles to pay obeisance at the sacred Badrinath temple. During the time of First World War, the town of Badrinath had only 20 dwarf huts, where the temple staff lived.
Architecture of Badrinath Temple
The architecture of Badrinath temple bears a striking resemblance to the Buddhist Vihara (temple). The facade of the temple is built out of stone and has arched windows. On the walls and pillars of the mandapa, one can see the intricate carvings. To enter inside, one has to take the broad stairway that leads to the arched gateway, the main entrance of the temple.
This remarkable temple is 50 feet tall, having a small cupola on top covered with agold gilt roof. Inside the temple, one can see the calm and meditative posture of Lord Vishnu, flanked by Nar and Narayan. Around 15 idols have been are enshrined in the temple that are carved out of black stone.
Mythology about Badrinath
There are two mythological stories related to Badrinath, the first states that as per the Vamana Purana, the two sages named Nar and Narayana (the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu) performed their penance here and Bhakt Narada was able to attain salvation.
Whereas, the other legend tells that Lord Vishnu in his child avatar manifested near the Neelkanth Parvat in search of a place to meditate.Upon searching, he fell in love with the site near Alaknanda river. Lord Vishnu then incarnated as a child near the Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers (now in the vicinity of Neelkanth Parvat) and started crying. When his cries reached the ears of Goddess Parvati, it melted her heart at once. She wanted to help the child so she took her consort, Lord Shiva to meet him. When Parvati asked the child, 'What do you want?' The child asked for the site that he liked for meditating. Parvati granted his wish and now the same place is revered as BadriVishal.
Badrinath Pilgrimage Travel Destination
The main attraction of Badrinath is the Badrinath temple also known as the Badrinarayan temple. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also one of the 108 Divya Desams or holy shrines of Vaishnavities. The present temple is conical in shape built two centuries ago by the Garhwal kings. 15 idols are present in the temple complex, each built-in black stone. Lord Vishnu is represented here in a meditative posture and is flanked by Nar and Narayan.
Some of the other attractions of Badrinath include the Tapt Kund a natural thermal spring on the banks of the Alakananda. You can also visit the Panch Prayag i.e. Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag; from Badrinath. You can also visit the Mata Murthi temple which is dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. At a distance of 3km from Badrinath is the Mana village popularly known as the last village of India, inhabited by people of the Indo-Mongolian tribe.
Badrinath illustration by team eUttaranchal. Artist: Beenu
Best Time to Visit Badrinath
In the opening time of six months of Badrinath, pilgrims can travel in any season but if you want a hectic free journey then choose the months of end season of yatra. The best time to visit Badrinath is September and October. May and June season is also ok to visit Badrinath but because of huge number of pilgrims you can face high rates of hotels and long queues outside temple. During monsoon, there is much possibility of landslides and road block because of mountainous road and heavy rainfall. So our team will suggest you to visit Badrinath in the month of October or November.
How many days are enough for Badrinath?
For a fulfilling experience in Badrinath, we recommend a minimum stay of three days.
Begin your journey with a holy dip in Tapt Kund and Surya Kund, known for their sacred waters, followed by a visit to the revered Badrinath Temple, where you can seek the blessings of Lord Badri Vishal and witness the awe-inspiring architecture, then visit the Mana Pass and enjoy their scenic beauty.
On the second day, venture to nearby attractions such as Vasudhara Falls, where the cascading waters create a breathtaking sight, as well as Dev Tal, which offers stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains. Be sure to visit Bheem Pul, a remarkable rock bridge with a fascinating legend, Brahma Kapal, a sacred site for performing rituals for the departed, and Ganesh Cave, which adds a touch of adventure to your itinerary.
Conclude your trip on the third day by exploring Charan Paduka, a serene spot believed to be where Lord Vishnu once rested, along with Mana Village, known for its unique culture and traditions, and Pandukeshwar, a site rich in mythology.
This itinerary not only allows you to immerse yourself in the spiritual ambiance but also offers opportunities to appreciate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of this sacred region, ensuring a truly memorable experience.
Badrinath in Winters
The Temple of Badrinath Dham is closed during winters, you can check the closing and opening dates here. Winter seat of Badrinath is located in Joshimath. Know more about Winter Char Dham Yatra.
Ask a Question about Badrinath
Badrinath Questions
Lata Pandey
07 Dec 2024
Q. क्या सर्दियों में बद्रीविशाल के दर्शन कर सकते हैं ?
A. Darshan of Lord Badrivishal in winters can be done at its winter seat. Narsingh temple in Joshimath is the winter place of bhagwan badrinath.
Nitin , 12 Dec 2024
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Jyotsna Kedia
05 Dec 2024
Q. I am planning to visit Badrinath dham next year on opening ceremony. Is the opening date decided yet?
A. No, the date hasn't been announced yet. The opening date of Badrinath is officially announced on the day of Basant Panchami every year.
eUttaranchal , 06 Dec 2024
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Snehlata Gupta
27 Sep 2024
Q. Is helicopter tour from dehradun to Badrinath and Kedarnath open in October?
A. Yes, the Helicopter tours are open for Badrinath & Kedarnath. The tours will operate till the end of October this year as Kedarnath temple gets closed for winter on the day of Bhaidooj every year.
Bhupendra Kunwar, 07 Oct 2024
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Badrinath Weather
Check out the Badrinath weather report for December
Badrinath Weather in December
The minimun and maximum temperature in December in Badrinath is 5°C and 12°C respectively. The weather is generally snowfall in December and you would feel chilling cold throughout the day. Heavy Woolen clothes are recommended for Badrinath in December.
What is Badrinath famous for?
Badrinath is famous among tourist as Badrinath Temple, Char Dham Yatra, Pilgrimage, Temple, Char Dham Temple.
Badrinath is recommended destination for Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups, Solo.
Badrinath is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Char Dham Yatra, Monuments of National Importance, Panch Badri, Pilgrimage, Temples.
Write a review about Badrinath
Badrinath Reviews
Shruthi Rao
06 Dec 2024
My long awaited wish came true when I visited Badrinath dham this October. The divine place was much better than I had imagined. It didn't took us much time for the darshan as the queue wasn't as long as we had expected. The temple is really beautiful especially during the night lights. The nights were colder though and we were wearing heavy woolens. There are enough places near Badrinath to keep you occupied for 2-3 days. Bheem pul and Mana village are worth visiting. Hoping to visit back soon.
Suhasini Dubey
27 Sep 2024
Badrinath ji is definitely a place one should visit atleast once in his lifetime. It felt immense peace. Also the alaknanda river flowing near the temple adds upto the divinity of the place. If you are a avid trekker, you can also visit vashudhara fall.
Ravi Bhardwaj
11 Sep 2024
I visited Badrinath with my family, and it was a deeply spiritual experience. The temple has a unique charm, and the surrounding scenery is breathtaking. However, the cold can be quite intense, so be sure to pack warm clothes. The local food was delicious, especially the prasad at the temple. Overall, a very fulfilling pilgrimage.
