General Information
The beautiful town of Badrinath is the place heavenliness meets with the tranquillity of nature. Situated in the Chamoli locale in Uttarakhand at the tallness of 3,133 meters, the pre-prominent homestead Lord Vishnu is one of the holiest of the blessed holy places of Char Dham journey in India. Other Char Dham destinations incorporate Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram.
Arranged among Nar and Narayan crests, the devout place where there is Vishnu likewise has a place with the Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. Beginning with Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath is the last and most praised stop in the journey voyage through Garhwal Himalayas. Badrinath Dham is effectively open by motorable streets and Badrinath sanctuary can be come to by strolling along a simple trek. Around 3 km from Badrinath is the town of Mana, which is one of the last towns before the limit of India closes and that of Tibet starts.
The pinnacle of Neelkanth remains steadfast spreading its relentless air for all pioneers and voyagers alike. Badrinath is a place where there are bunch legends, everyone just adding to the greatness of this spot. Alongside these legends, the blanketed mountain crests, effortlessly streaming Alaknanda River and mind-blowing scenes make the ideal foundation to encourage an otherworldly association.
History of Badrinath
Badrinath is viewed as one of the most sacred places in the Hindu religion. One of the 108 Divya Desams, Badrinath sanctuary is a piece of both Char Dham and Chota Char Dham. Adi Shankaracharya found the icon of Lord Badri in Alaknanda River and put it up in a cavern close to the Tapt Kund.
In the sixteenth century, a Garhwal King got the sanctuary raised, which has been remodeled ordinarily because of characteristic catastrophes. Sandwiched among Nar and Narayan tops, the magnificence of Badrinath Dham is additionally improved with the radiant foundation of Neelkanth crest.
Places to visit in Badrinath
Mana Village
Situated on the border of India and Tibet, the Mana village is known to be the last Indian village in the region. It is situated in the Chamoli district of Himachal Pradesh. Uttarakhand government has designated this village as a ‘Tourism Village’. Just 3 km away from Badrinath, this village attracts many tourists that visit the region.
The village lies on the banks of the Saraswati river and is situated at around 3,219 meters above from the sea level. Surrounded by the beautiful Himalayas, this place is a must-visit if you happen to visit Badrinath. This is the perfect place for trekking lovers as the three trekking routes – Mana to Satopanth, Mana to Mana Pass, and Mana to Vasundhra start from this place.
Charan Paduka
Charan Paduka is a magnificent sacred rock that has the foot impressions of Lord Vishnu and thus attracts a lot of devotees. It is just 3km away from Badrinath. It is situated at around 3,380 meters above sea level. The rock is situated on Narayan Parvat and can be reached by a trek of 3 km through stairs. The devotees of Lord Vishnu come to this place to seek the blessing of their lord.
Mata Murti Temple
Another religious place situated only 3 km from Badrinath is the Mata Murti Temple known to be dedicated to the Nar and Narayan. A Mata Murti Fair is organized every on the eve of the Vaman Dwadashi or Shrawan Dwadashi. The temple is situated on the bank of the Alaknanda river which contributes to the beauty of this region.
Narad Kund
Narad Kund is the second most prominent attraction of Badrinath. It is known that the idol of Lord Vishnu was discovered by Adi Shankara at this place. Narad Kund is the part of Alaknanda’s water enclosed by the rock. It is India’s one of the most popular hot springs. According to Hindu mythology, the Narad Bhakti Sutra was written by Narad Muni in this area. Despite the snow-capped mountains surrounding the region, the water of the spring remains hot. The place looks divine and pristine due to its beauty and natural surroundings.
Bhim Pul
Situated in the Mana Village, this bridge is built over the Saraswati river. As per Hindu Mythology, one of the Pandava, Bheem, placed this huge rock between the Gorge so that Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas could cross the river for their journey to heaven. This is why this bridge is known as Bhim Pul. It is situated just opposite the Vyas Gufa.
Ganesha Cave
Enveloped in the Mana village is this naturally built cave which is known to have some mystic energy around it. It is situated only 4 km away from Badrinath. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha wrote Mahabharata as dictated by Rishi Vyas. The region is surrounded by immense natural beauty and should definitely be on your list if you are in Badrinath.
Brahma Kapal
Another religious place that is of great significance to Hindus. Situated near Alaknanda, the people come here to pay respect to the dead spirits of their ancestors. It is only two kilometers away from Badrinath. The place is considered holy as the Lord Brahma is known to have blessed this place with is presence. So, performing shraddha for your ancestors can free them from the cycle of birth and death.
Vyas Cave
Vyas Cave is a historical cave that is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, at a very small distance from the famous shrine of Badrinath. It is known to be the place where Rishi Ved Vyas composed the famous Hindu epic, Mahabharata with the assistance of Lord Ganesha. This cave lies in Mana village.
Panch Dhara and Panch Shila
As the name suggests, Panch (five) Dhara (Streams) is a group of five streams that rise from Badrinath. The streams are named Kurma Dhara, Prahlad Dhara, Indira Dhara, Bhrigu Dhara, and Urvashi Dhara. Collectively, these streams are known as ‘Panch Dhara’ at Badrinath.
Among these five streams, Indira Dhara is the most prominent and is located only about 1.5 km from Badrinath. Urvashi Dhara is a right bank stream of river Rishi Ganga. Bhrigu Dhara can be seen flowing through a number of caves. The water from Kurma Dharma is tremendously cold while the water of Prahlad Dhara is a bit warm.
Panch Shilas
(Five rocks) of Badrinath are Narisingh Shila, Garud Shila, Markandeya Shila, and Varah Shila. These are five blocks of rock situated in the Tapt Kund. Narad Shila is situated in the middle of Narad and Tapt Kund and appears to be in the conical form. Varah Shila is in the shape of boar and is situated near Narad Kund. Varah is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is said that Markandeya Rishi decided to meditate here and came all the way from Brindavan for the attainment of ultimate peace on the advice of Narad Muni.
Vasudhara Falls
Vasundhara falls are one of the most beautiful places to visit when you are in Badrinath. The waterfall looks amazingly beautiful cascading through the height of 400 feet, around 122 meters above sea level. It is believed that only a clean and pure person, both physically and by karma, can relish this waterfall. It lies in the remote area of Badrinath yet the unspoiled beauty of this place attracts a lot of nature enthusiasts. The trek to this waterfall starts from Mana and passes through the Saraswati temple. The trek beyond Saraswati temple gets rough with lots of uneven terrains, filled with stones and pebbles.
Saraswati River
Saraswati is known to be the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge and this tributary of the Alaknanda river is known to be the form of her presence on the land. The confluence of Saraswati and Alaknanda river is Keshav Prayad, situated in the Mana village. After meeting with the Saraswati river, the Alaknanda river further merges with the Ganga in Devprayag.
Badrinath Temple
One of the popular sites of the Char Dham Yatra, the Badrinath Dham draws fans with steady confidence to the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand. The one-meter tall impressive statuette of Lord Vishnu that is figured to be one of eight Swayam Vyakta Kshetras or self-showed statues sits in the Nar Narayan sanctuary.
The hallowed Badrinath Temple, which is likewise the piece of Major Char Dham circuit is arranged at a height of 3133 m along the bank of River Alaknanda. Badrinath or Badrinarayan Temple is additionally one of the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Vishnu and along these lines a significant journey for Vaishnavites.
Hot Springs
Hot springs are situated near the Badrinath Temple and considered for their religious and medicinal values. Three main hot springs are Tapt Kund, Suraj Kund and Narad Kund are famous for their ritual values.
Neelkanth Peak Neelkanth peak is situated in the Chamoli locale of Uttarakhand, Nilkanth, or Neelkanth pinnacle remains at a transcending height of 6,596 meters over the Alaknanda valley and the town of Badrinath. Amazing mountain dweller Frank Smythe depicted the top as “second just to Siniolchu in Himalayan magnificence.” The Satopanth Glacier is located on the northwest side of Nilkanth.
