Badrinath Dham : Tour Highlights
The Char Dham Yatra as its commonly called or more accurately the chota char dham yatra is a very important Hindu pilgrimage destination in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
The four destinations in Chota Char Dham are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is a spiritual journey which people undertake for cleansing one’s soul, attaining liberation and getting moksha.
The Char dham yatra begins from Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district and from their it goes to other three places namely Kedarnath, Gangotri and finally ends at Badrinath which is at the highest altitude. The total distance covered by this yatra is about 2500 kms and can be done on foot which was what people did and still do traditionally or on horsebacks and now helicopter services have also started.
The yatra begins from the auspicious day of Akshay Tritya which falls either in April or May and ends during Diwali. Maximum tourists do the yatra in the first two months itself before the monsoon to avoid being stuck in landslides. In winter months the yatra is closed due to snowfall in the region.
Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun city in Uttarakhand becomes the starting point of Char Dham yatra.
Traditionally, people start the pilgrimage from Yamunotri followed by Gangotri and Kedarnath ending the yatra at Badrinath.
Badrinath is one of the four pilgrim temple of char dham yatra. The Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Badrinath town of Uttarakhand in the Chamoli district on the bank of Alaknanda river. Badrinath temple is located 3,133 m or 10,279 ft above sea level. The Nar Parbat Mountain is located opposite to the temple, while the Narayana Parbat is located behind the Neelkanth peak. So, the Badrinath temple is between the Nar – Narayan mountains as the locals call them.
Badrinath temple is also part of ‘panch badri’ 5 circuit temples devoted to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is the main temple the others are Adi Badri, Vridha Badri, Bhavishya Badri and Yogdhyan Badri. All these temples are located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
The temple opens on Akshay Tritya in April or May till Diwali after which the idol is kept at Narasimha temple at Jyotirmath located 64kms away from Badrinath temple from November to April in peak winter season.
According to Hindu legends, Sage Narad had reprimanded Lord Vishnu when he saw Lakshmi massaging his feet. To perform austerity Lord Vishnu went to Badrinath temple to meditate and Lakshmi became Badri tree to provide him with shelter in the harsh winter months. The deity in the temple is thus depicted as Lord Vishnu in Padmasana pose.
In 8th century, Adi Shankracharya found a deity of Lord Badrinath in Alaknanda river, he picked it up and kept it in the cave which was later made in a temple.
The best time to visit Badrinath is from April/ May after Akshay Tritya when the temple first opens to June where the temperatures are very comfortable, they range between 10- 20-degree C. It is also peak season hence we see a lot of tourists during this time owing to summers and vacations in schools and colleges.
The months of September till second day of Diwali are relatively less crowded as the temperatures can drop very low with a high possibility of snowfall in latter months making the journey on foot difficult.
The months of June to September are months of monsoon season which is not a typical time to travel due to frequent occurrence of landslides and road blockages due to heavy rainfall in the region and the temple can remain shut during this time.
From after Diwali till April the temple is shut due to extreme snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.
As Badrinath is a major pilgrimage destination and part of Char Dham Yatra it is very well connected by major cities like Dehradun. From Dehradun Badrinath is 315kms away and the best mode of transport is by road or Helicopter.
1. CLOTHING – Travelling to Badrinath one will require to be dressed in warm yet comfortable clothing as the weather is quite cold. Layering your clothes hence becomes important and practical.
A government id proof such as Aadhar card, passport or driving license is required at all hotels or guest houses while you check in. additionally some permits might be required while visiting some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
3. MEDICINES – if you are on any lifelong medicines definitely carry those. Along with it one can carry a few basic medicines for fever and pain relief and some basic first aid stuff like band aids, antiseptics and ointments. Since it’s a high altitude region acclimatization is very important and necessary medication and advise has to be followed.
4. MISCELLANEOUS – other items like torch, umbrella, raincoats, sturdy backpack to keep some raincoats etc and sunscreen can be carried too.
Q1. Is Helicopter Service Available To Visit Badrinath?
Ans: Yes, helicopter services are available from Dehradun directly till Badrinath temple. But prior booking is a must as during peak season the slots become full very easily.
Q2. What Is The Best Time To Visit Badrinath?
Ans: The best time to visit is in April or May till June as the temple opens on Akshay Tritya in April or May as the temperatures are manageable 12 – 20-degree C. During monsoon the risk of landslide is quite high and during winter months the temple is closed due to heavy snowfall in the region.
Q3. Can One Do A Badrinath Yatra Without Registration?
Ans: One cannot do Badrinnath or any char dham yatra without prior registration on the government website or app for safety concerns.
Q4. What Is Badrinath Also Known As?
Ans: Badrinath is also known as Badrinarayan Temple, Vishnudham and Badari Vishal.
Read more: Kedarnath Dham - Tour Highlights
Nitisha
Nitisha from Mumbai is a consulting homoeopathic medicine practitioner by profession and a content creator by passion. In her free time she loves to explore new places owing to her love for travelling and thirst for knowledge and history.
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