Badrinath



Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Badrinath is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.

Understand
Badrinath is in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, at an elevation of 3,133 m. The holy shrine here is the Badrinath Temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu. The temple is stated to be of Vedic origin and over the years has undergone many renovations.

Climate
The area experiences a cool and chilly climate all through the year. May to June and again from September to October are the best period to visit. Winter is severe and snowfall is common. The monsoon period from July to mid September is best avoided for your journey as landslides and road blocks are quite common.

Get in
Only a 50 km from the India-China (Tibet) border, Badrinath is generally a 10-hr journey from either Kedarnath, the site that precedes it in the Char Dham circuit, or one of the main disembarkation points on the plains.

Many people prefer to reach Badrinath shrine starting early morning from Joshimath have darshan of Lord Vishnu and return to Joshimath by evening to avoid any altitude problems.

One can visit the last Indian village Mana during the visit of the temple which is around 4 km from the temple and easily accessible by the roads.

By bus
There are regular buses operating to Badrinath from Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh, especially in the early morning from the latter two.

Reserve your seat here:

By car
There are certain timings to visit Badrinath by car/bike after opening of the temple, as routes are narrow from Pandukeshwar on some places. As of 2018, roads are open 8AM–8PM. There is a checkpost near Pandukeshwar, around 23 km from Joshimath (a good place for a journey break). So check the timings before start your journey.

Get around
The temple is open only May–October and the dates are announced through the media.

Buy
Ancient coins, wool, Ayurvedic medicine, holy books, counterfeit electronic goods from China, sacred threads, seashells, temple requirements, aarti booklets, colourful beads and bracelets.

Eat
Indian and only vegetarian food. Non vegetarian foods are not allowed on this pilgrimage route beyond Rishikesh. There are several eateries around the temple some of which have decent eating atmosphere. Do not expect luxury as all business here are seasonal. All shops remains closed after the yatra season is over.

Drink
No alcohol permitted, but (illegal) marijuana, etc., is widely available.

Sleep
Lots of hotels and ashrams, and three GMVN Tourist Rest with inexpensive dorms exist.

If you are low on cash you can always stay in an ashram; food is also provided by ashrams. If you are adventurous you can bring along your tents and camp here.

There are some locals who can also provide you ready-made tents to stay.

Hotel Narayan Palace, near the bus stand, and Sarovar Portico are luxury hotels with a reasonable tariff.



Go next

 * Ghangaria – Just south, it's the gateway to the Hemkunt pilgrimage site and the Valley of Flowers.
 * Auli – One of India's best ski resorts, just south of Joshimath.
 * Kedarnath – Relatively close, considering you are already in this area. It is one of the four Char Dham Yatra Hindu pilgrim centers, at 3,400 m, which you need to hike at least 16 km to.
 * Nainital – Back towards the valley but not Rishikesh, one of the most popular hill stations of India, famous for its lake. But the bus connection might be painful.