Badrinath- The Lord Of Berry Trees In Uttrakhand

Vivid and colourful, Badrinath is nestled between greater Himalayas (Garhwal Hills) in the Chamoli district of Uttrakhand, India. Badrinath is a popular Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat. It is one of the four sites in India’s Char Dham pilgrimage. The Badrinath temple, one of the four major Char Dham temples of Uttrakhand, is right along the Alaknanda river. It stands at an elevation of about 3133 meters. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is said to have had a Vedic origin. It is believed that it went through several changes over the years. 

The word Badrinath comes from the local word ‘Badri’ meaning berry, and ‘Nath’, meaning owner. It is believed, Lord Vishnu sat in penance in these mountains. Goddess Laxmi, his consort, took the form of a berry tree to provide him shade from the harsh Sun.

Badrinath, earlier known as Badri Vishal, was reestablished by Adi Shankaracharya to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism. The aim was to unite the nation. Badrinath is considered holy as several sages and ascetics meditate there to attain enlightenment. It is also rich with sacred account from several Hindu scriptures- from Pandav brothers’ puranic story to Lord Krishna’ visit. The Vamana Puran says, the sages Nara and Narayana perform their penance at Badrinath as well. 

By Plane- The nearest airport is Dehradun- Jolly Grant Airport. It is 337 kilometers away from Badrinath. From the airport, take a bus or a cab to the temple.

By Rail- Rishikesh and Kotwar are the only nearest railway stations. Bus services are available from the station.

Food- Only vegetarian food is available at Badrinath. In fact, non-vegetarian food is not allowed after Rishikesh. The eateries around the temple is mostly simple and subtle as they are seasonal. No alcohol is permitted but marijuana is illegally available mostly everywhere.

Stay- There are lots of ashrams and hotels. If you are on a budget travel, ashrams are the best places. They also provide food. Since camping is also allowed, you can bring your tents if adventure is your forte. There are many luxurious hotels as well.

It is best to reach the temple early morning and have the darshan to reach Joshimath on time (before dusk) because there are several altitude problems that people might face after dark. The temple door is open only from May to October because rest of the time the weather is harsh with bone-chilling cold. Visit Badrinath from May to June and September to October, as the monsoon seasons can be very tricky and risky with landslides happening often. 

Hemkund Sahib- It falls enroute Badrinath and is a popular pilgrimage for Sikhs. One can pay a visit to it. 

Vasundhara Falls– About eight kilometers northwest of Badrinath, it is a beautiful waterfall to which one needs to trek after three kilometers motorable road. All one needs is sturdy shoes.

Brahma Kapal– Situated on the banks of Alaknanda river, it is only 100 meters from the temple. It is believed, Lord Brahma resides there. A story goes that Lord SHiva once beheaded one of the heads of Lord Brahma that fell here. 

Saraswati river- The river originates from Mana, where the river appears and disappears. It is mostly an underground river as none knows where it flows to but can only be seen meeting the Sangam in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Besides that, there are several hot springs around that devotees take a dip in. It is said that the water of the hot spring cures several ailments. Valley of Flowers situated near the Nanda Devi National Park is another great spot to explore. Only a few kilometers from nearest town Joshimath, Auli is another treat to visit. Most importantly, skiing facilities are available there and must be tried by adventure lovers!