Badrinath

Guarded on either side by the two mountains Nar and Narayan, the Neelkanth Peak provides a splendid backdrop to Badrinath, one of the 'Four Dhams'. One of the most celebrated pilgrim spots in the country, it plays host to the famous Badrinath Temple.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area, called 'Badri Van', or the berry garden, to meditate after Narad rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. The main deity is a meditating Lord Vishnu.

Facing the temple at the bank of Alaknanda River is a hot water spring known as "Tapt Kund", a bath in which is very refreshing to all travelers. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji is five metres high, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. The temple opens every year in the month of April-May and closes for winters in the third week of November. Even though legend dates the temple back to the Vedic age, Guru Adi Shankaracharya has established the present temple. The temple has three parts - Garbha Grih (The Sanctum Sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Sabha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).

Yog Dhyan Badri:
The temple of Yog dhyan Badri, one of the five Badris is located at Pandukeshwar ( 1920mts.) just 24kms. short of Badrinath on Rishikesh - Badrinath highway. The image, depiciting a meditative posture of the Lord, is worshipped here. the Pandavas are said to have handed over Hastinapur to king Parikshit and retired here.

Bhavishya Badri:
The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an elevation 3641mts., and is surrounded by dense forests. It is located at Subain near Tapovan, about 17kms. east of Joshimath on Joshimath - Lata Malari route. Pilgrims have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga river.

It is believed that a day will come when the present route to Badrinath will become inaccessible and Lord Badrinath will then be worshipped here. Hence the name ' Bhavishya Badri' which literally means the " future Badri".

Adi Badri:
Approachable from Karnprayag by a motorable road on the way to Ranikhet, are remains of 16 small temples. Seven among them are ancient ones, belonging to the late Gupta period. The credit for building these temples is generally given to Shankaracharya. The main temple of Narayan is distinguished by a raised platform in the pyramidal from where the idol is enshrined. sculpted out of black stone, the idol of Lord Vishnu is a metre high.

Vriddha Badri:
Situated at an altitude of 1380mts. and at a distance of 7kms. from Joshimath is Animath, the place where several centuries before the advent of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath was enshrined and worshipped. The idol is known as vriddha old or the first Badri and the temple remains open throughout the year.

Restaurants
Vijaya-Laxmi Restaurant
Saket Restaurant
Urvashi Restaurant
Several other ordinary restaurants
Liquor and non-vegetarian food are prohibited.

Excursions

Mata Murty Temple
Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include Sesh Netra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.

Mana Village
Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Vasundhara
As the name suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent water fall. This place is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorable upto Mana.

Panch Dharas
(a) Prahalad Dhara (b) Kurma Dhara (c) Urvashi Dhara (d) Bhrigu Dhara (e) Indra Dhara

Panch Shilas
(a) Narad Shila (b) varaha Shila (c) Garurh Shila (d) Markandeya Shila (e) Narshingh Shila.

Tapt Kund
Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.

Narad Kund
A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

Brahama Kapal
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform proppitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Sheshnetra
1.5 kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag's eye.

Charanpaduka
3 kms. away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder.

Neelkanth
A pyramidal shaped snowy peak ( 6,600mts.) towering above Badrinath presents a dramatic sight. It is popularly known as the 'Garhwal Queen'.

HOW TO GET THERE?
Air	Nearest airport is a Jollygrant, 314 kms
Rail	Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 297 km which is connected to major cities like Howrah, Mumbai, Delhi & Lucknow by rail. There are two routes to reach Badrinath from Delhi: Route 1: Delhi-Rishikesh : 287 km by rail, Rishikesh-Badrinath 297 km by road. Route 2: Delhi-Kotdwar: 300 kms by rail, Kotdwar-Badrinath 327km by road.
Road	Condition: Metalled with some unmetalled patches. Taxi: Private taxies and other vehicles are also available between Rishikesh and Badrinath on hire. Bus: U.P. state Transport corporation operates regular bus services from Delhi Rishikesh daily.

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