Badrinath: A Spiritual Paradise amidst Spectacular Surroundings
One of the famous four ‘Char-Dham’ pilgrimage sites located across India, Badrinath is amongst the most sacred spots for Hindus. Situated at an elevation of 3133 metres, the town is home to the famous Badrinath Temple which is the major highlight of a visit here. You can reach here by road from Dehradun or Rishikesh with regular buses and taxis plying on this route from both these destinations. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (314 kms.) and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh (295 kms.).
Nestled along Nara and Narayana mountain ranges of Garhwal Himalayas on the banks of River Alaknanda (a tributary to the holy Ganges), against the backdrop of the majestic, snow-capped Neelkantha Peak, Badrinath possesses a mesmerising natural charm and is a paradise for those who love to admire pristine beauty of the mother nature! Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is an amazing spiritual spot that houses a one-metre-tall black stone statue of Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. Just below the temple is The Tapt Kund, a group of hot sulphur springs where you can have a refreshing bath! The water is considered to possess medicinal benefits.
Another interesting spot located at a distance of just 3 kilometres from Badrinath is Mana Village, the last village in the Indian Side of the Sino-India Border between India and Tibet. If you are an adventure-lover who loves trekking and mountain-climbing, you will be pleased to know that Badrinath is a gateway to several mountaineering expeditions headed to some high-altitude mountains like Neelkantha. Other great spots to visit around Badrinath include Pandukeshwar, Mata Murti Temple, Bheem Pul and Narad Kund.
Badrinath is a high-altitude destination with extremely cold winters; so the best time to visit is during the summer months between May and October. However, even in this time-window, monsoon months from July to Mid-September should be avoided as there are frequent landslides on the route to the town. There are several accommodation options within the town itself, with a few 3-stars, some budget hotels & homestays and a few government guest-houses. Alternatively, you can also stay at Joshimath (just a cable-car ride away from the beautiful hill-station of Auli!), which is in close proximity (44kms.) to Badrinath. General weather of this destination is cold. This destination is of type Mountain.