Popular Temple
Shri Badrinath Dham
Chamoli district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand
Part of both the Char Dham and Chhota Char Dham circuits, nestled between the Nar and Narayan peaks
At a glance
- Location
- Chamoli district, Himalayas, Uttarakhand
- Presiding deity
- Lord Badrinarayan (Vishnu)
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Vaishnava
- Nearest railway station
- No direct railhead; the nearest is Rishikesh (~295 km) or Haridwar, followed by road travel
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~317 km)
- Best time to visit
- May-June and September-October.
History
Badrinath sits on the banks of the Alaknanda river, flanked by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, and represents the northern seat of the Char Dham established by Adi Shankaracharya. Tradition holds that Vishnu performed penance here beneath badri (jujube) trees, giving the shrine its name. It is also the final stop on Uttarakhand's "Chhota Char Dham" circuit (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath).
Spiritual significance
Nearby lies Mana village, often called India's last village before the Tibet border, along with mythologically significant sites like Vyas Cave and Bhim Pul.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
4:30 AM to 9:00 PM during the open season (the temple closes for winter due to heavy snow).
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
From Rishikesh or Haridwar, Badrinath is reachable by road via Joshimath, typically taking 10-12 hours. The temple is open for darshan only from around April/May to November (the "kapaat khulne" period).
Continue your Vishnu bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.