Badrinath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is one of the temples which form the Char Dham Pilgrimage in India. The temple also a part of the 108 Divyadesams dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Badrinath Temple Opening Dates for 2019 – 10 May, 2019
Badrinath Temple Closing Dates for 2019 – 9 November, 2019
Badrinath Temple is surrounded by two peaks named Nar and Narayana. The peaks symbolize twin forms of Lord Vishnu. Neelkanth mountain is in the backdrop of the temple. The temple opens from April to November.
| Badrinath Temple | |
|---|---|
| Temple Timings | 4:30 am to 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm |
| Opening Date | 10-May-2019 |
| Closing Date | 09-November-2019 (Tentative) |
| Time Taken for Darshan | May and June: 4 hours, July-October: 1 hour |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Best Time to Visit | May, June, September, October |
| Registration | Bio-metric registration in Rishikesh |
| Nearest Airport | Dehradun |
Frequently Asked Questions about BADRINATH TEMPLE
The climate at Badrinath is cold and chilled the whole year. The peak seasons for the visitors are from May to June and September to October. During monsoon, there is so much rainfall at Badrinath. It is advisable not to visit during monsoon.
The Kapat of Badrinath temple opens on 10th May for the year 2019. One can visit after that any time.
At Badrinath, winter starts from October and lasts till April. The average temperature falls down to 5°C during day time. In December, Badrinath experiences heavy snowfall. It is advisable not to go during December.
No direct flights or trains are available from Haridwar to Badrinath. You have to take NDLS Janshatabdi from Haridwar to Dehradun. Then you can take a taxi from Dehradun to Badrinath.
You can hire a taxi from the railway station to reach Badrinath. There are buses available too from nearest bus stations. However, it is not recommended to go by car. Find out why?
If you take NH7, it will take you 10 hours and 4 minutes. The journey is 296.6 km and the shortest.
From November to April, it is winter in Badrinath. Snowfall happens very often during winters. The average temperature is 5°C.
Badrinath Temple is at a very high altitude of 3300 meters.
It is not ideal to visit Badrinath in March as it will be still winter. For 2019, Badrinath temple opens on May 10th.
Adi Shankara established Badrinath as a pilgrimage site in the ninth century. It is said to be believed that he resided in this place for six years.
Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is situated in Badrinath town of Uttarakhand. Hence, it is also called Badrinarayan Temple.
It is believed that Badrinath Temple is founded by Adi Shankara. He built the temple in 7th century C.E.
Alaknanda river flows close to the Badrinath temple of Uttarakhand. The fast flowing river rushes down from the Badrinath valley.
In Uttarakhand, Badrinath and Kedarnath are the two holy Dhams. Badrinath is 40.8 kms away from Kedarnath.
• Summer: The days in summer are very hot but at night it’s very cold. You will have to carry some loose cotton clothes and some woolens too.
• Winter: Badrinath is very cold in winter and hence you’ll need to carry heavy woolens with you.
What are the timings of Badrinath temple?
Badrinath Temple timings are from 4:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm every day. The temple is open only for 6 months a year due to extreme weather conditions. The temple opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya in May. It closes on the eve of Vijayadashami in November.
Here are the Badrinath temple darshan timings and pooja timings:
| Timings | 4:30 am to 1:00 pm (Morning Darshan) 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm (Evening Darshan) |
| Abhishekam | 7:30 am to 12:00 pm |
| Shayana Aarti | 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm |
| Poojas | Ved Path, Geeta Path, Akhand Jyoti |
What are the sevas and poojas at Badrinath Temple?
The self-manifested statute of Lord Vishnu is worshiped in a religious manner. Poojas and sevas are performed at the temple twice a day. Here are the different kinds of sevas and poojas that take place inside the Badrinath temple:
- Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah Path – It is a special pooja which the temple performs on request. This pooja continues for seven days and is in honor of Lord Krishna. There are 18000 mantras in the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha. A Yagya is performed on the last day of the Pooja. By doing this Pooja, one gets rid of fear and misfortune in the life.
- Vishnu Sahasranamam – It is a prayer consisting of the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu. Each name signifies different attributes of Lord Vishnu.
- Ved Path – A recitation of verses from the four Vedas – Rig, Sam, Yajur, and Atharva.
- Geeta Path – The whole Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta is chanted in front of the deity.
- Akhand Jyoti – The temple is not for pilgrims on Vijaya Dasami. On the last day, the priests light a lamp with special ghee brought from the Mana village. This lamp continues to lit for six months.
People can have the darshan at Badrinath temple at free of cost. Devotees can also do some special poojas or aartis.
What is the history of Badrinath temple?
Badrinath Temple History dates back to many centuries. There is no historical record about Badrinath temple.
Vedic scriptures mention the origin of the temple. According to which, the temple was a Buddhist shrine till the 8th century. Adi Shankara converted it to a Hindu temple later. The architecture of the temple is very much like a Buddhist temple. This has lead to a lot of argument about its origin.
According to Skandapuranam, the temple was originally established by Adi Shankara. He founded a black statue of Vishnu lying on the banks of Alaknanda River. He established it in a cave near the Tapt Kund which later became famous as the Badrinath Temple.
A traditional story says that Shankara expelled all the Buddhists in the region. The successors of the king Kanak Pal governed the temple for years. The income of the villagers was used to feed & accommodate pilgrims. The king enjoyed obedience by the devotees before proceeding to the temple.
According to a legend, Lord Shiva chose this place for his tapasya. However, Lord Vishnu wanted the place for himself. So, he took the form of a little boy and started crying down on the rocks. He didn’t calm on both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s request. Hence, on Parvati’s request, Lord Shiva left for Kedarnath for his tapasya.
Another legend says that Lord Vishnu sat in meditation at this place. During the meditation, Vishnu was not aware of cold weather. Goddess Laxmi then protected and sheltered him in the form of the Badri tree. Pleased by Lakshmi’s devotion, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashram.
Why is Badrinath popular?
The statue of Lord Vishnu in the temple is Swayambhu in nature. It is one of the 8 self-manifested statues of Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the temples among the Char Dham Pilgrimage in India. It is also a part of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
It is mentioned in the Vamana Purana that the sages Nara & Narayana did penance here. ‘Nara’ and ‘Narayana’ is the dual form of Lord Vishnu’s 5th avatar. It is also believed that Narada achieved moksha on Narad Shila located at Badrinath. The great sages like Kapil Muni, Gautam and Kashyap also did penance here.
The Badrinath Temple is a part of the Panch Badri temples. The other temples are Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri, and the Vriddha Badri. The holy river Saraswati also originates from a glacier near Badrinath.
The water of the hot spring Tapt Kund is said to have medicinal properties. A dip in the kund can cure a lot of diseases.
The Skanda Purana states that there are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell. But there is no shrine like Badrinath. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India. Lakhs of devotees travel to this pilgrimage every year.
What to wear while going Badrinath?
Badrinath temple is situated in the backdrop of Neelkanth mountains. The weather is cold throughout the year. Rainfalls and snowfalls often occur there. Hence, one should wear proper winter clothes with mufflers and gloves. An umbrella is also must to carry.
How to reach Badrinath temple?
- Air – The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun at a distance of 314 km.
- Train – The nearest railway station is Rishikesh (295 km away).
- Road – One can take a bus from New Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh.
What are the festivals celebrated here?
Some of the festivals celebrated at Badrinath temple are:
- Badri-Kedar festival – The festival usually occurs in the month of June. Artists from all over Uttarakhand come together to show their musical talent. They dedicate it to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. This festival continues for 8 days.
- Mata Murti Mela – Badrinath temple organizes a large fair every September. This day is to celebrate the coming of the Ganga river on the earth. The day is in honor of Mata Murti, mother of Nar & Narayana. Devotees also believe that she divided the Ganga river into 12 channels.
- Janmashtami – This festival is a celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu). It occurs in the month of August or September. Devotees organize several processions for Lord Krishna on this day.
Where to stay near Badrinath temple?
Some of the places where one can stay near Badrinath temple are:
- New Snow Crest: The hotel is just 1.7 km to the city center. The hotel has a huge entrance. Your car can come to the hotel doorsteps. Rooms are equipped with facilities of hot water, heater, etc. The temple is at a walking distance of less than 1 km.
- Narayan Palace: This hotel is at the base of the hill and by the side of river Alaknanda. Rooms are equipped with facilities of hot water, heater, etc. Window view from the hotel room is magnificent. Staff is polite and food is delicious in this hotel.
- Sarovar Portico Badrinath: Sarovar Portico is a well-known name. They are known for their nice and polite staff. The hotel has a beautiful infrastructure. The window view of the hotel is excellent. You can easily relax there looking at the mountains and people on the streets.
What are some of the temples nearby?
Some of the temples near Badrinath temple are:
- Adi Badri: It is the 2nd among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. When Badrinath temple closes for winters, devotees worship Lord Vishnu in Adi Badri temple. The sanctum of the temple has an idol of Lord Vishnu which is 1 meter high. It has been carved out of black stone.
- Vridha Badri: It is the 3rd among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. Devotees believed that Adi Shankaracharya worshipped Badrinath here before taking him to the main temple. Vridha Badri is temple is open for pilgrims throughout the year.
- Bhavishya Badri: It is the 4th among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. According to belief, Lord Badri will take abode in Bhavishya Badri at the end of Kaliyuga. The name of the place means ‘Future Badri’ implying that it will be the future residence of Lord Badri.
- Yogadhyan Badri: It is the 5th among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. As per mythology, the Pandavas were born here and Pandu achieved moksha here. Yogadhyan Badri has a bronze image of Lord Vishnu. Devotees believe that Pandu installed this image. The image shows the Badri meditating (dhyana). Hence, the name of the shrine comes to be known as ‘Yoga-dhyan’ Badri.
- Dhyan Badri: It is the 6th among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. It has an Image of Lord Vishnu which Urvashi established. This image of Vishnu has four arms, made of black stone. It is also in a meditative posture.
- Ardha Badri: It is the 7th among the ‘Sapt Badri’ temples. In comparison to other temples, the idol of Lord Vishnu is smaller here.
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