One of the Four Holiest Pilgrimage Places of Hindus that constitute Chaar Dhaam Yatra, Shri Badrinath Dham is revered as the seat of Lord Vishnu. Situated at a height of 10,248 ft above sea level, one can reach Badrinath only after an arduous trek that features steep cliffs, winding curves, and lofty hills. But the scintillating beauty of the place and religious fervor of the devotees goads one on. The main Badrinath Temple was built about 200 years ago by the King of Garhwals and the deities housed here include Lord Badri Narayan, God of Wealth known as Kuber, Narad Rishi, and Nar & Narayan.
Places to See
Situated at an altitude of more than 3100 m above sea level, Badrinath is situated in a beautiful valley of the mountain known as Nar-Narayan Parvat on the banks of River Alaknanda. Pious land with rare scenic beauty, Badrinath offers:
- Badrinath Temple
- Tapt Kund and Surya Kund
- Neelkanth Peak
- Mata Murti Mandir
- Mana Village
- Vyas Gufa
- Ganesh Gufa
- Bhimpul
- Vasundhara Falls
- Govindghat, Ghangaria
- Vasuki Tal
Shopping
True to its hilltop location, Badrinath offers you some good deals on woolen and warm clothes. However, most of the shopping here revolves around its holy orientation. Saligram Shilas, the black stone said to be the embodiment of Lord Vishnu, are most popular among pilgrims at Badrinath.
Where to Stay
Badrinath attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and hence, you can find hotels and accommodations of all types here. Right from clean and basic budget hotels to expensive and well-fitted luxury hotels with world-class comfort and services, Badrinath offers you a number of stay options. You can try:
- Hotel Narayan Palace
- Chardham Camp
- Camp Ghangharia
- Sarovar Portico
How to Reach Badrinath
Badrinath does not have an airport or a railway station. It is linked by road to major cities nearby such as Delhi, Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh.
By Road: Regular bus services connect Badrinath to important cities and pilgrimage destinations nearby. Special tourist buses also connect Badrinath to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and New Delhi.
By Rail: Nearest railheads to Badrinath are Rishikesh, about 300 km from the city; Haridwar, about 310 km from the city; and Kotdwara and Kathgodam, about 330 km from the city. Some of the recommended trains to reach these stations are Garhwal Express, Dehradun Kathgodam Express, Bagh Express, Kathgodam Garib Rath, Dehradun Express, Dehradun Shatabdi, and Hemkunt Express.
By Air: The nearest domestic airport to Badrinath is Dehradun, 317 km away while the nearest international airport is New Delhi, about 600 km away.
