Shree Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple or the Badrinarayan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage yatras. It finds its mention in the 108 Divya Desams devoted to Lord Vishnu in India. Situated at the height of 10,279 feet, the temple is surrounded by lofty snow-clad Himalayas with Alaknanda River flowing by. The religious importance and purity of Badrinath Temple allures scores of devotees. The main gate of the shrine painted with myriad colours. It has not only the image of Lord Vishnu but, several other gods and saints are housed inside the temple.

Badrinath Temple has a Tapt Kund, a hot water spring which is considered to have medicinal values. River Alaknanda is known to originate from here. The vibrant festivals of Mata Murti Ka Mela and the Badri Kedar Festival give you another reason to visit the temple. From November to April end, the temple remains closed due to extreme weather conditions. Badrinath is accessible by road and therefore driving up to this pilgrim spot is not difficult.

History & Religious Significance of Badrinath Temple
According to a popular legend, Lord Vishnu came to the present-day site of the Badrinath temple seeking a quiet place where he could meditate. Enveloped by the undisturbed peace, Vishnu was so deeply engrossed in meditation, he could not even feel the bitter cold against his body. Goddess Lakshmi, who was his consort, manifested herself in the form of a Badri Tree (also known as Jujube) to make sure he was protected from extreme weather conditions. Impressed by Lakshmi's devotion, Lord Vishnu named this site Badrikashram.

The site also finds mention in the Vishnu Purana. According to the ancient text, the site was often visited by Nara and Narayana, sons of Dharam, who were in search of a place to set up their hermitage. Both men were believed to be human incarnations of Lord Vishnu. When they chanced upon the site with Alaknanda's springs, they knew they had found the ideal location for their ashram.

During the Vedic Era, the deity Badrinarayan and a temple dedicated to him at this very location, has found multiple mentions in various texts. Historical accounts suggest the temple existed since 500 BC.

Architecture of Badrinath Temple
- The Badrinath Temple has a colourful main gate, known as Singhdwar. It is around 50 metres tall with a small cupola on top.
- The entire shrine is divided into three structures- the Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum, the Darshan Mandap for the rituals and the Sabha Mandap for the devotees. The Garbhagriha has a conical-shaped roof covered with sheets of gold and is 15 metres tall. A series of broad stairs lead devotees to the main entrance. Just inside is the mandap, a large pillared hall which has walls of intricate designs.
- The main shrine has an image of Badrinarayan, a 1 metre tall black stone, holding a conch and a Chakra. It is considered to be one of the 8 swayam vyakta kshetras or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.
- The sanctum also houses images of many other gods like Nar and Narayan and Lakshmi and saints like Adi Shankara, Vedanta Desika and Ramanujacharya.

Best Time To Visit Badrinath Temple
The best time to visit the Badrinath Temple would be May - July. An ideal time to visit Badrinath Temple would have been when the temperature is moderately cold, but the temple remains closed from November to April. The place becomes quite dangerous in monsoons as there are chances of landslides. As Uttarakhand is generally cool due to its high altitudes, you will not face the scorching summer heat that other regions face in India during the summer.

How to Reach Badrinath Temple
The Badrinath Temple is in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand between Nar-Narayana hills on the banks of Alaknanda river. There is a bus stand on the Narayan Palace Road, just 1 Km from the Badrinath Temple. Also, you can take private cars or taxis. Helicopter services are also available for Badrinath from Dehradun. Read more here.
When it comes to local transport, you can easily reach the temple by car or taxi. However, exploring the town on foot is the best option.