A Day in Badrinath: Must-Visit Temples, Helicopter Rides and Treks to Badrinath
One night in Badrinath, and memorable for life ever
Situated on the bank of the Alaknanda river in the Chamoli district of Uttrakhand with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the holy temple of Lord Vishnu Badrinath is iconic and recognized in Char Dham Yatra. At a height of 3133 meters above sea level, the Badrinath temple observes more than millions of footfalls of devotees every year. Though the temple route is through hilly curves and rugged terrain, the number of devotees visiting this temple is increasing yearly and seeking blessings from Lord Vishnu. This destination of Char Dham Yatra is now common among youths who are choosing to trek and reach the temple to get the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
History of Badrinath Dham
The history of Badrinath Dham is illustrated in Bhagwad Purana, Skanda Purana, Mahabharata, and Padma Purana. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Vishnu came here to this place for meditation, and his wife, Goddess Laxmi, covered him with Badri, which is the Indian Ber fruit tree, to protect him from the bone-freezing cold of the Himalayas. Thus, the place is named Badrinath temple.
The temple was re-established by Adi Shankaracharya to protect Hinduism and revive the lost prestige of Hinduism. Adi Shankaracharya also built several Hindu devoted lord temples in and around Badrinath temple.
Mythological beliefs of Badrinath Temple, a house of several tales
- Meditation of Lord Vishnu
Lord Vishnu once took the form of twins Nar and Narayan and chose this place for challenging meditation. Goddess Laxmi got worried for the Lord and transformed into a berry tree to protect the Lord from biting cold and harsh weather. Thus, this place got its name as Badrinath temple.
- Established by Adi Shankaracharya
The black idol of Lord Vishnu was found in the Alaknanda River, which Shankaracharya found. He placed the idol in a cave near the spring, ‘Tapt Kund.’ The main temple houses the image of this idol, which is worshipped every day by the priests and devotees.
- Pandavas route to heaven
After the peaceful establishment of the kingdom and handing over to King Parikshit, the five brothers, Pandavas, along with their wife, chose to leave the world and walk to heaven. The route to heaven was passed by this temple route and village Mana. It is believed sage Vyasa lived in Mana, and he wrote an epitome saga, Mahabharat.
- Samudra Manthan
Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise in the fight to churn the ocean and obtain Amrit Kalash. He used Mandar as a churning rod for churning the ocean. Once the churning was completed, he returned to Badrinath and resumed his meditation.
- Narada’s penance was over.
God once punished Sage Narada for his fault, and he got blessings from Lord Vishnu here and was free from his penance. This place adds a unique spiritual emotion of penance and blessings.
- First built by King Pururava
It is very lesser known that King Pururava, the original builder, laid the stone for this cave as a temple. He once discovered Lord Vishnu in the caves, seated in meditation, which made him build a temple as an offering to Lord Vishnu and this sacred place.
- Home of Lord Shiva before Lord Vishnu
The cave here belonging to Lord Vishnu is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva earlier. Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati used to come to this place as their dwelling, and later, Lord Vishnu chose this place for his meditation.
Suggested Itineraries: Plan Your Badrinath Trip Through 12 Days Chardham Tour Package
Nearby temples are a must-visit
Visiting Badrinath temple does not mean you are restricted to this particular temple. This Himalayan range has many spiritual temples and attractions in and around the temple, which are a few miles away. Let us find some nearby temples and places to visit.
- Yog Dhyan Badri
Yog Dhyan Badri is just 24 km away from the main temple. This place is spiritual, and it is believed that Pandavas, while on their journey to heaven, first completed their penance here.
- Bhavishya Badri
Around 17 km away from Joshimath in the Subhain Village, this Bhavishya Badri is focused on being the future Badrinath temple. The rugged terrain is predicted to be challenging and unreachable for old-age devotees after a few years.
- Adi Badri
This Adi Badri is a house complex of 16 temples, all established by Adi Shankaracharya and dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
- Vriddha Badri
Vridha Badri is another prominent temple that believed in the appearance of Lord Vishnu first, and later, he went to the present Badrinath temple cave.
- Tapt kund
Tapt kund is a holy water spring, and devotees first take a bath in this hot water spring before entering the temple.
- Narad Kund
Narad Kund is a water body near the temple but is not naturally hot.
- Mata murti temple
Mata Murti temple is dedicated to the mother of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that, at this place, her mother wished and prayed that Lord Vishnu would take incarnation as her son.
- Vasudhara falls
Vasundhara waterfalls are one of their kind and are near Mane village. This village is the last village of India.
- Bheem Pul
Over the Saraswati Nadi, a natural rock bridge is believed to have been built by Bheem so that his wife Draupadi could cross the bridge when they were on the way to heaven. It is a natural rock pool.
- Vyas Gufa and Ganesha Gufa
In Mane village, the last village of India, the Vyas gufa and Ganesha gufa are both still present. It is believed sage Vyas wrote down Mahabharat with the help of Lord Ganesha in this cave.
- Himkund Sahib
Himkund Sahib is a religious place for Sikh pilgrims. It is a gurudwara where once Sri Guru Gobind Singh chose to meditate.
Easy access for all age pilgrims
Badrinath’s rugged terrain and curvy route are now much more accessible for all age groups because of helicopter service and better road conditions. Compared to older times, Badrinath was the dream of Hindu devotees, but very few could get here. The past few years have observed changes in infrastructure, proper connectivity of roads, and maintenance. The government has also started a helicopter service to this destination to overcome the time and make reaching Badrinath easier for every person, every age group, and even disabled people.
Footfall of devotees increases every year in Badrinath.
Located in the deep interiors of the Garhwal region in the Chamoli district of Uttrakhand, there is an increasing number of visits of devotees every year and every month. This location is close to the Indo-Tibet border and is another reason for attracting tourists and devotees.
Recently, the prosperity of Sanatan dharma and Hinduism has grown and gained popularity. Now, the youths are choosing this spot for trekking and visiting the glorious temple. However, visiting this temple during the Char Dham yatra is the dream of every Hindu. Now, helicopter connectivity has made it easy for several older adults to visit Badrinath temple in a single day.
Badrinath opened its gates in 2024-25, the beginning of a spiritual journey.
Badrinath has opened the gates of the temple of Lord Vishnu in May. The opening ceremony is done with the chanting of mantras, a pure Hindu ritual of offering prayer to Lord Vishnu and opening it for common people. The temple will remain open till October. The terrains get complicated during the monsoon and winter seasons, so the temple remains closed for six months and opens again in May. Witnessing the opening ceremony of the temple doors is just a unique spiritual experience and the beauty of Hindu belief.
Pilgrim facilities at Badrinath Dham call for a night to stay
This rugged terrain of Badrinath Dham is now more comforting with improved facilities and medical infrastructure.
Badrinath Dham now has better accommodation options.
GMVN guest houses and dharmashalas in Badrinath near the temple are the best options for staying for a night, enjoying the nightlife, and living in Badrinath. Always pre-book the guest houses from the official website when booking temple tickets. Road connectivity with buses, rental cars, and taxis has made Badrinath Darshan easier to reach. Plan a stay in Badrinath for a night to experience the spiritual magic.
Eco-friendly tourism at Badrinath increases devotees’ footfall.
Badrinath Dham Tour Management has created waste management programs to preserve the beauty of nature and maintain its natural beauty of valleys and mountains. The use of plastic and the bringing of plastic bags is banned with respect to environmental health, attracting more tourists to this temple.
A sneak into a spiritual experience
Badrinath Dham Trust organizes spiritual events and programs to engage devotees. Special puja, aarti, offerings, and music festivals make the tour to Badrinath attractive and connect with the deeper roots of Hinduism and spirituality.
Celebrity visits to Badrinath inspire youths and devotees.
Recently, the power of social media and the influence of posts by celebrities and influencers have motivated several youths to join Badrinath temple darshan. The temple is more than a spiritual tour. It offers adventure in the terrain with spiritual vibration as a cheery on the top.
Highlights at a Badrinath Trip
It is an era of Social media and influencers. The Badrinath temple trust also organizes Bhajan, aarti, and local festivals to engage the devotees. Some social media campaigns are organized to celebrate and enjoy reaching Badrinath and enthrall the night.
Conclusion
Badrinath Dham, the most sacred and recognized temple in Char Dham Yatra, is open to devotees and will be closed in November. Plan your visit and try to spend a night in Badrinath to enjoy spiritual enthusiasm. Helicopter service has made reaching Badrinath for one day of darshan easy.