Travel Tips for Badrinath Dham Yatra

A combination of spirituality and the calmness of nature, this beautiful town of Uttarakhand is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand which is settled at a height of around 3200 meters. It is one of the pilgrimages of the Char Dham Yatra which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The origin of this place holds a multitude of legends and each one holds a great significance in itself. Badrinath is the last destination of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. Snow-capped mountain peaks, the flow of the Alaknanda River, and the beautiful scenic beauty of nature make Yatra a memorable and soul-enriching one.

Legends Behind the Origin of Badrinath:

Legend 1- Lord Vishnu had gone through atonement during his life in the Himalayas. At a great height, it was too hot so his wife Lakshmi decided to help him out by taking the form of a Badri tree and providing him relax from the itching hot weather. Later Lord Vishnu got impressed by Lakshmi’s devotion and declared the name of the place Badrikashram.

Legend 2- This legend is based on the meditation performed by Lord Shiva and Parvati at Badrinath. They were doing deep meditation but got interrupted by a woeful sound of a little boy. The boy was Lord Vishnu who had changed his appearance to hide his identity from Lord Shiva and Parvati. Later on, they both left the place and moved to Kedarnath due to the melancholy behavior of the boy.

Legend 3- This legendary tale states that the 2 sons of Dharma, Nar, and Narayan were finding a place for meditation and to make their religious state bigger so they were wandering here and there amidst the holy Himalayas they found a place near the Alaknanda River where both hot spring and cold springs were moving. Later they named this place Badri Vishal which is now known as Badrinath.

Legend 4- There is a belief that to prevent Earth from the unbearable consequences of heavily flowing River Ganga towards the east Lord Shiva put her on his mane and then River Ganga divided herself into 12 holy rivers including Alaknanda on which Badrinath is situated.

Location

This holy place is situated in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand (northern state of India) along the river bank of Alaknanda. Around 9 km to the east of Neelkanth Peak, 2 mountains are standing named Nar and Narayan. It is located at a distance of around 62km towards the northwest of Nanda Devi Peak and also lies towards the north of Rishikesh.

Nearby Places to Visit

There are many other places you can visit near Badrinath which you can visit apart from Badrinath Temple like Tapt Kund, Narad Kund, Ganesh Cave, Vyas Cave, Nilkantha Peak etc.

Tapt Kund

The water of this Kund holds a mystery of keeping itself hot even after the cold environment all around the place. Numerous devotees flock here based on a belief that if they take a dip into the hot water springs of Alaknanda River then they will be free from their sins. The Kund contains crystal clear water rich in sulfur having therapeutic and some medicinal properties.

Narad Kund

Before entering the temple, devotees take a bath in this Kund of hot water springs. It is situated on the Alaknanda River bank behind which there is a belief that the statue of Lord Vishnu was recovered from here by Adi Shankaracharya. Millions of pilgrims come here to see the attractions of eye-catching surroundings and the mythological significance of the water of this Kund.

Neelkanth Peak

This paramedical-shaped mountain is commonly known as the Garhwal Queens which stands at an altitude of around 6500m. This peak is surrounded by fascinating glaciers from 2 sides and the Ganga River from the third side. There is a legend behind this peak related to Lord Shiva and the sins performed by the priests. It is an admirable place for trekking.

How to Reach Badrinath

You can reach this place by opting for any transport air, train or road.

By Air: Jolly Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport to Badrinath.  You can book a taxi or bus to reach your destination as Badrinath is situated only at a distance of 331km from Dehradun. Helicopter services for Badrinath offered by different companies are quite common for this sacred Yatra which tourists are acquiring in a good number nowadays to make their journey more comfortable.
By Train: Haridwar is the nearest railway station to Badrinath which is situated at a distance of 311km from Badrinath. Haridwar Railway Station is well connected with the railway stations of many other cities in the country.
By Road: Both interstate and intrastate bus services are available for Badrinath. Road transport is the best option to opt for as it is the most reasonable and accessible one.

Best Time to Visit: 

In Summer: Summer is the best time to visit Badrinath as the temperature is a little moderate and the temperature ranges between 7 degree Celsius to 18 degree Celsius.
In Winter: it is endorsed not to visit Badrinath in winter as the temperature goes below zero degrees Celsius and it is maximized up to 14 degrees Celsius.
In Monsoon: The temperature ranges between 5 degree Celsius to 15 degree Celsius in monsoon which is a little adjustable but the frequent rainfalls result in destructive landslides. The road gets blocked due to landslides and prevents tourists to visit the place.

Tips to be Followed: 

• Many fake guides are standing there and giving you the wrong guides about the place. So it is advised to check their ID card before hiring them.
• Tourists must carry woolen clothes with them as there is no consistency in the weather so it might be possible that the temperature goes down. You must carry shoes as it becomes easy to walk in the mountains if you wear shoes.
• Drink only packaged water or boiled water and drink plenty of water to keep yourself well-hydrated during the journey.
• Tourists are advised to carry some cash with them along with cards as it is a remote area so you may not find ATMs everywhere.