About Badrinath Temple
A vermilion-and-gold temple to Vishnu at 3,133 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas, flanked by the Neelkanth peak and the hot-spring Tapt Kund — one of the four Char Dhams and among the 108 Divya Desams revered by the Tamil Alvar saints.
History
Tradition holds that Vishnu meditated here under a badri (jujube) tree for thousands of years while Lakshmi shielded him from the sun — the tree and the goddess fused into the landscape, and Shankaracharya in the 8th century retrieved the black saligram idol from the nearby Narad Kund and installed it in the present shrine. The temple has been rebuilt several times following Himalayan earthquakes; the striking wooden façade in red, yellow and blue was redone after the 1803 quake by the Garhwal kings. A unique tradition: the head priest (Rawal) must be an unmarried Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala — a 1,300-year-old link maintained by Shankaracharya to bind the north and south of Bharat.
Best Time to Visit
May to June, September to October
Travel Tips
- Dip in the Tapt Kund hot spring (45°C) before darshan — it is considered purifying and is segregated by gender
- Registration for the yatra is mandatory (same portal as Kedarnath)
- The Mana village — India's last village before Tibet — is 3 km beyond and worth a morning walk
- Carry cash — ATMs are unreliable above Joshimath
Famous Food in Badrinath Temple
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Vyas Gufa at Mana — where the Mahabharata was dictated
- Joshimath Narsingh Temple — where Badri moves for the winter
- Pandukeshwar Yogdhyan Badri — associated with Pandu, father of the Pandavas
How to Reach Badrinath Temple
Badrinath Temple is located in Uttarakhand, India at coordinates 30.7433°N, 79.4938°E. You can reach Badrinath Temple by air (nearest airport in Uttarakhand), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Badrinath Temple?
- The best time to visit Badrinath Temple is May to June, September to October.
- What are the top travel tips for Badrinath Temple?
- Dip in the Tapt Kund hot spring (45°C) before darshan — it is considered purifying and is segregated by gender. Registration for the yatra is mandatory (same portal as Kedarnath). The Mana village — India's last village before Tibet — is 3 km beyond and worth a morning walk. Carry cash — ATMs are unreliable above Joshimath.
- What food is famous in Badrinath Temple?
- Famous dishes in Badrinath Temple include: Rajma-chawal at the Mana village dhabas, Sattu ka paratha at Pandukeshwar en route, Bhotia buransh (rhododendron) juice — served at roadside stalls.
