Badrinath Temple is located in a small town Badrinath which is in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and boasts high religious significance. With Alaknanda River flowing by the side and a backdrop full of snow-clad mountains, Badrinath Temple is an absolute visual treat. It is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites of “Char Dham” (four abodes) which in turn is the most scared set of pilgrimage sites in Hindu religion.
Roads to Badrinath Temple
The Journey to Badrinath Temple stared as soon I decided to visit it for the second time in July’2019. We drove through dangerously curved roads with craggy sides. A lot of times the turns on the hilly roads were blind. There is no way you can close your eyes even for a minute on such roads.
Narasimha Temple- Winter Home of Badri Vishal
With the onset of the winter months when the temple Kapat of Badri Vishal shuts down for Darshan for 6 months, the idol of the presiding deity of Lord Badri is then shifted to this temple at Joshimath. The idol is brought down amongst great celebration and dances and is placed right next to the idol of Lord Narasimha by the priests. The pilgrims on their winter Char Dham Yatra or Panch Badri Yatra visit this temple to offer their prayer to the lord here which is more convenient since the entire region of Badrinath remains covered under a thick layer of snow.
As you get to see the Badrinath Temple you can feel a different energy in the air. We parked our vehicle and then started walking towards the temple. The narrow lane towards the temple was filled with small shops with glittering copper idols of the different goddess.
The very word that crossed my mind at the first sight of the temple was colourful. Badrinath Temple is painted in various bright colours. The architecture and bright colours of the temple look astonishing. It is believed that the present Badrinath Temple was a Buddhist shrine till 8th century. Post that Adi Shankara played an instrumental role in converting it into a Hindu temple.
An authority at the temple says that Adi Shankara found an idol of Badrinath in the Alaknanda River. Later he enshrines the same image in a cave near the hot spring of Tapt Kund, which is now known as the Badrinath Temple. It is also believed that during Satya Yuga Lord Shiva meditated here for many years. And all those years Goddess Lakshmi transformed into a Badri tree to provide shadow to Lord Shiva. This is how the place got its name as Badrinath. It is believed that the whole area in and around Badrinath was the domicile of Lord Shiva. This is one of the reasons that the temple is jam-packed during Maha Shivratri.
Places to visit near Badrinath Temple
- Tapt Kund and Surya Kund: Tapt Kund and Surya Kund are two famous hot water springs near the Badrinath Temple. The fascinating part about the kunds is that the temperature of the spring remains constant at around 55-degree celsius throughout the year irrespective of whether it is summers or winters. It is believed that taking a dip in these hot springs cleanses all the sins from the body, mind and soul. Devotees generally go for a bath in these hot springs before entering the temple.
- Mana Village: Mana village, popularly known as India’s last village is located at Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, few kilometres away from the Tibet/China border. Mana village is three kilometres away from Badrinath. So on a normal day, the visit to Badrinath is always ensued by a visit to Mana village. It has recently gained quite some popularity in terms of tourism.
If you have a couple of extra days, I would suggest visiting Mana Village as it has a lot of beautiful places to see. A short walk will take you to Vyasa Cave, Ganesha Cave, and Bheem Shilaa (supposedly where Bheema moved a rock for Pandavs & Draupadi to cross the river). There is a resident saint, a.k.a Baba in one of these caves and often poses for photos. Enjoy the cool breeze near the caves by sipping into piping hot tea/coffee at “The Last Tea Shop.”
Another place is Vasudhara Falls, which is famous for its medicinal values. A round trip to the falls from Mana would take about 6 hours, so plan it accordingly. During the flowering season, colourful flowers dot the route. The waterfall itself is a sheer drop from a few hundred feet with water more of spraying rather than falling!! But the scenic views on the way more than makes up for the less amount of water here
- Valley of Flower Trek: The Valley of Flowers boasts the coveted title of Unesco World Heritage Site. A valley carpeted with flowers and green meadows till the end of your sight is nothing less than a visual treat for your eyes. The best and balanced portrait of all the natural elements is what you should imagine when you think of this valley. Being located at an altitude of 3,500 meters to 4,000 meters this valley is home for numerous species of flora and fauna.
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