Badrinath is small town in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Located at the height of 3300 meters from sea level Badrinath is one of the most famous temples of Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the four ancient dham since the time of Adi Guru Shankaracharya came here and reinstalled the Badrinath. Badrinath pilgrimage has long history since Adi Guru Shankaracharya came here in 8th century. Badrinath weather is cool in summer due to higher altitude and snowfall is common in winter due to which the temple remains closed after diwali till next summer. Apart from pilgrimage Badrinath can be also good destination for adventure like trekking and meditation. Vasundhara waterfall is popolar trek near badrinath 6 kms far. From the base of Nar and Narayan mountain Badrinath provides amazing mountain views. Badrinath is located on the bank of the Alaknanda River. Alaknanda is considerd one of the five rivers which makes Ganga River. Alaknanda will meet Bhagirathi river and together they are recognized as Ganga River. Named after the plant Badri (Tulsi) it is believed incarnation of Vishnu Nar and Narayan sages meditated here.
Places to visit in and around Badrinath :
- Badrinath Temple & Tapt Kund
- Mana Village
- Bhimpul
- Vyas Gufa
- Vasundhara Waterfall
Things to do in Badrinath:
- Singhtseeing
- Hiking and Trekking
- Taking bath in Tapt Kund
- Photography
Best time to visit Badrinath :
Badrinath is closed in winter so May - June - Sep - Oct is best time to visit Kedarnath. Sep Oct being less crowded it will be much better experience overall.
Accommodation & Meals at Badrinath:
Accommodation at Badrinath has very limited options. There are some standard hotels but deluxe and luxury facilities are limited. High season like may june makes sometime difficult to get good accommodation so advance bookings are necessary. Food options are mostly north indian and south indian. Local Garhwali options are limited but worth to try.
How to reach Badrinath :
By Road: Badrinath is connected by road to Delhi via Delhi - Meerut - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Devprayag - Rudraprayag - Joshimath - Badrinath. From Rishikesh it is 300 kms and takes approx 9 hours drive from here. Due to long drive it is best to start early in morning. Bus / Taxi is available from Haridwar / Rishikesh easily when temple is open.By Railway: Haridwar Railway Station is nearest railway station for Badrinath. Haridwar is 320 kms far and approx 10 to 11 hours drive depend on season. Haridwar has good amount of trains from Dellhi - Mumbai - Amritsar - Mumbai - Varanasi etc places regularly.
By Air: Dehradun Airport is nearest airport for Badrinath. Badrinath is 325 kms far from Dehradun Airport. It will take approx 10-11 hours drive to Badrinath from Dehradun Airport. It is best to start early in morning as drive in night time is difficult in hill areas. Helipad is available at Badrinath. Same day visit by Helcopter is also possible from Dehradun by chartered helicopter.