Badrinath Temple

Legend

Tradition holds that Vishnu sat in deep meditation here, unaware of the cold, and Lakshmi took the form of a badri, a jujube tree, to shelter him from the snow. Pleased, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashram after her, and is worshipped here as Badrinarayan. The Nar and Narayan peaks that flank the valley are named for the twin sages who performed penance here.

Why this temple matters

Badrinath is one of the four Char Dham of India and of the Chota Char Dham of Uttarakhand, and one of the 108 Divya Desams sung by the Alvars. It stands at about 3,100 metres on the Alaknanda river in Chamoli district, below the Neelkanth peak. The shrine was re-established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th or 9th century; the black shaligram image of Vishnu sits in padmasana. The Tapt Kund hot spring lies just below the temple, and the head priest, the Rawal, traditionally comes from Kerala's Nambudiri community.

What devotees pray for here

Festivals

• Kapat opening (late April or May): the doors open for the season after the Akhand Jyoti is viewed
• Badri-Kedar Utsav (June): music and dance festival across the two Dhams
• Mata Murti ka Mela (August–September): fair honouring the mother of Nar and Narayan
• Kapat closing (October–November, around Vijayadashami): the deity's winter worship moves to Joshimath

Poojas & rituals

• Maha Abhishek and Abhishek pooja in the early morning
• Vishnu Sahasranama path
• Geeta path
• Pind daan and shraddha at Brahma Kapal
• Shayan aarti at night

How to reach

Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun is about 315 km away and Rishikesh railway station about 295 km. The road runs through Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli and Joshimath; buses and taxis run from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Vehicles reach the temple town itself.

Timings

Open only from late April or May until the closing around Vijayadashami or Diwali. In season the temple opens for Maha Abhishek around 4:30 AM, closes for the afternoon around 1 PM, and reopens from about 4 PM to 9 PM for the evening aartis.

Rules & dress code

Char Dham Yatra registration is mandatory. A bath in the Tapt Kund before darshan is customary. No photography inside the temple. The town is closed in winter; worship continues at Joshimath.

Frequently asked questions

Photo gallery