Char Dham Yatra

Yogadhyan Badri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated at Pandukeshwar village near Govind Ghat in the district of Chamoli, Uttarakhand at an altitude of 1920 m. It is the fifth temple complex among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. It’s part of the famous ‘Sapta Badri‘ pilgrimage circuit. It is a part of the Char Dham Yatra Package within Uttarakhand.

Yogadhyan Badri – Facts

Deity	Lord Vishnu
Location	Pandukeshwar, Near Govind Ghat,  Badrinath, Uttarakhand
Best Time to Visit	May to June and September to October
Darshan Timings	5 AM to 12 PM 2 PM to 9 PM
Entry Fees	Free
Dress Code	Traditional Wear
Festivals	Krishna Janmashtmi, Makar Sankranti

In ancient times, the path to the temple went through the Badri van (Forest of berries). Hence, the suffix ‘Badri‘ is added to the seven holy shrines of Lord Vishnu.

What are the timings of Yogadhyan Badri?

Here are the timings of the temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning	5 AM	12 PM
Evening	2 PM	9 PM

What is the significance of Yogadhyan Badri?

The significance of Yogadhyan Badri is that it has a bronze image of Lord Vishnu. Devotees believe that Pandu installed this image, which is depicted to be meditating (Dhyan). Hence, the name of the shrine comes from the posture of the image, and it is called ‘Yoga-Dhyan‘ Badri.

Moreover, when the main temple of Badrinath closes down during winters because of extreme weather conditions, Yogadhyan Badri is considered to be the winter abode of the Utsava-murti (festive image) of Badrinath. 

Hence, it is mandatory for a pilgrim to offer prayers at this place in order to complete his/her pilgrimage. Also, the chief priests of the temples are ‘Bhatts‘ from southern India

What is the history of Yogadhyan Badri?

The History of Yogadhyan states that:

• According to the religious texts, the king Pandu worshipped here to get rid of him from the sin of killing of two mating deer; the two deer were ascetics in their previous lives.

• King Pandu died and attained salvation here. The Pandavas were also born here, so this place is very important in terms of the religious point of view. The king Pandu installed here an image of Vishnu in meditating posture thus the image got its name – Yogdhyan Badri. This idol is big and life-size carved out of Shaligram stone.
• Pandavas had fought the war against Kauravas known as Mahabharat and after defeating the Kauravas, all Pandavas brothers came to this place for penance as they had killed their kith and kin in the war. From this place, the Pandavas had gone further to Swargarohini for paying their penance and finally reaching to heaven.

• As per a copper plate inscription under the rule by early Katyuri Rajas this place has been identified as Panchal Desh.
• Another historical location near this place is Suryakund, a hot water spring, where Kunti had given birth to her son Karna fathered by Sun God “Surya”. Kunti had got married to king Pandu at Pandukeshwar.
• It is said that King Arjun also meditated here which attracted God Indra. God Indra sent Pari (angel) to distract Arjun from meditation but Arjun did not get distracted and finally, Indra God blessed Arjun. It is believed that the idol of Vishnu which is present at the temple was given by Indra God to Arjun as a gift.

What are the festivals celebrated at Yogadhyan Badri?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Yogadhyan Badri are:

• Krishna Janmashtmi: It is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It occurs according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar and is a very important festival for the followers of Lord Vishnu.
• Makar Sankranti: This festival occurs each year in January and is to appease the Sun God. It is the first day when Sun enters Capricorn and marks the lengthening of daytime in the forthcoming days. This day also includes colorful decorations, preparation of sweets with sesame seeds and children asking for treats and pocket money.

How to reach Yogadhyan Badri?

Here’s how to reach Yogadhyan Badri:

• Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (210 km)
• Train: Rishikesh and Haridwar are the nearest railway stations.
• Road: Buses are available to Rishikesh from ISBT Kashmere Gate. One can avail taxis or state transport buses to Joshimath which is 18 km away from Yogadhyan Badri.

Where to stay near Yogadhyan Badri?

Some of the places where one can stay near Yogadhyan Badri while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

• Hotel Sudarshan Palace: Hotel Sudarshan Palace has facilities such as 24-hour front desk, garden area and parking facility within its premises. Amenities such as bed, bottled drinking water, access to the common balcony and attached bathroom are available.
• Hotel Kuber Annex: The facilities offered here are front desk, room service, power backup, STD PCO facility, doctor on call. Massage service is also available here so that guests can relax after trekking. A helicopter booking facility is also available at the hotel.
• Hotel Heaven: The hotel offers facilities suchlike parking and telephone. With a team of skilled professionals, the property ensures the fulfillment of all needs of guests. Moreover, in case of medical emergencies, one can avail the doctor on call facility at the hotel.

What are the other Sapta Badri destinations?

The other Sapta Badri destinations are:

• Adi Badri: It is the second among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. When Badrinath temple remains closed due to extremities in weather, devotees worship Lord Vishnu in Adi Badri temple. Moreover, the sanctum of the temple has an image of Lord Vishnu which is 1 meter high and has been carved out of black stone.
• Vriddha Badri: It is the third among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. Devotees also believed that Adi Shankaracharya worshipped Badrinath here before enshrining Him in the main Badrinath temple. Vriddha Badri is temple is open for devotees and pilgrims throughout the year.
• Bhavishya Badri: It is the fourth among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. According to beliefs, Lord Badri will take abode in Bhavishya Badri at the end of Kaliyuga. Even the name of the place literally translates to ‘Future Badri’, implying that it will be the future residence of Lord Badri.
• Dhyan Badri: It is the sixth among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. It has an image of Lord Vishnu which Urvarishi established.  This image of Vishnu is four-armed, made of black stone and in a meditative posture. Also, Brahmins from Southern India serve as head priests in the temple.
• Ardha Badri: It is the seventh among the ‘Sapta Badri’ temples. In comparison to other temples, the idol of Lord Vishnu here is smaller. Hence, the name of the temple roughly means ‘the little Badri’.

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 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

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:

1. 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.
2. Vishnu Sahasranamam – It is a prayer consisting of the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu. Each name signifies different attributes of Lord Vishnu.
3. Ved Path – A recitation of verses from the four Vedas – Rig, Sam, Yajur, and Atharva.
4. Geeta Path – The whole Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta is chanted in front of the deity.
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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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