» Badrinath

Against the backdrop of the towering Neelkanth, in the lap of of Nar-Narayan Parvat, lies Badrinath, among the holiest of the Hindu shrines in India. There was a time when the spot was carpeted with 'badris ' or wild berries and hence was famous as 'badri van'. Built by the Garwal kings, the Badrinath shrine dates back to more than two centuries.

The temple has a black stone idol that depicts Lord Vishnu - the preserver - in a meditative stance with both hands on his lap. Fed by the Badrinath glaciers and the holy Ganges, the sacred river Alaknanda flows by the temple. There is a hot water spring (Tapt Kund) near the temple. Rich in sulphur, a dip in Tapt Kund is considered holy and refreshing for body and soul and is said cure numerous ailments.

One of the four Dhams, which a devout Hindu has to visit in his life time to attain salvation, Badrinath has for centuries been the seat of seers and saints who assemble and live out their ascetic lives here. Which is probably why it is also known as 'Tapobhumi', the land of meditation and penance. Its other name is 'Bhubaikunth', which means heaven on earth. Legend has it that when Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help the suffering humanity, Earth was unable to withstand the force of its descent. Hence, the mighty Ganga was split into twelve holy channels of which Badrinath was one.

» Major Attractions of Badrinath

Badrinath Temple : Found by Sri Shankaracharya in the ninth century, this temple on the right bank of the Alaknanda river, at an altitude of 3133 metres, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Its chief attraction is the main entrance gate. The complex houses 15 idols. The one metre high image of Badrinath, depicting Lord Vishnu sitting in meditation, is the show-stealer. Curiously, a Namboothiri Brahman from Kerala presides over Badrinath as the head priest.

Tapt Kund : Tapt Kund,a natural hot water and cold springs are at the enterance of the temple.Before entering the temple , the pilgrims take a holy dip in the Tapt Kund.Other famous natural spring sites are Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

Panch Prayag : The five important confluences- Deoprayag, Nandprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Vishuprayag, form the Panch Prayag.

The Valley of Flowers : Nestled close to the Pushpavati river and with the majestic Rataban peak towering above it, this valley, which gets its name from the riot of beautiful flowers that grow there in wild abundance, is a trekker's delight.

» Best time to Visit Badrinath

Between May and October. The temple usually remains open from the first week of May to the second week of November.

» How to Get there

Air : Nearest airport ii at Jolly Grant (315 km away), Dehradun.

Rail : Nearest railheads are at Rishikesh 297 km away and Kotdwara 327 km away, which are connected with major cities of North India. Rishikesh is directly connected by rail with Howrah, Mumbai, Delhi & Lucknow. There are two routes to Badrinath from Delhi.

Road : Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.

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