Spiritual trips or Yatras hold a very important place in the Hindu religion. Amongst all of these trips, the ‘Chota Char Dham yatra’ consists of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri. The Yatra is an essential step towards the pursuit of salvation according to Hindu scriptures. Moksha is one of the four principles of human life, according to Hinduism; the other three are Karma, Artha, and Dharma. It is yearning for moksha and divine serenity that draws thousands of pilgrims to Badrinath Dham.
Badrinath Dham – A beginning
Badrinath Dham temple, a Char Dham located between the Nar and Narayan mountains, is a regal sight to behold. The temple is dedicated to Badrinathji or Lord Vishnu. Badrinath temple is part of both the Chota char Dham pilgrimage as well as the bigger circuit of Char Dham yatra of India. The other three places are Jaggantha Puri in the east, Rameshwaram in the south, and Dwarka in the west.
Badrinath Mandir – The Mythology
It is believed that Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Being meditated in Badrinath for 1000 years for the salvation of humankind. It is also believed that the Pandavas came here during their journey to heaven. It is also mentioned as the place where Veda Vyas wrote the great Epic of Mahabharata along with Lord Ganesha. There is also a cave called Vyas cave; it is believed that in this cave, the Ved Vyas wrote Mahabharata. Thus, Badrinath holds tremendous religious importance for Hindus.
Badrinath temple- An inside view
The Shinghadwar or the main entrance of the Badrinath Mandir is very colorful and intricately decorated. The temple is approximately 50 ft tall with a gold gilt roof. The mandir is divided into three parts the ‘sabha Mandap,’ the ‘Darshan Mandap,’ the Garbha Griha’, or the sanctum sanctorum where the idol is placed. Some facts quick facts about the Badrinath temple are mentioned below.
- Badrinath’s main gate has the idol of Bird Garuda, who is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu.
- The Garbha Griha has idols of Lord Vishnu, Narda Rishi, Lord Kuber, Udhava, Nar, and Narayana. In total, there are 15 idols.
- The present temple was constructed in the 16th century by the King of Garhwal.
- Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Vishnu dipped in the water of Alakananda.
- The Badrinath idol is seen under the Badari tree.
- Every puja at Badrinath must be preceded with a dip at Tapt Kund.
- Lord Vishnu is seated in a meditative pose in the temple.
Pooja in Badrinath temple
Pooja in this sacred temple is an elaborate affair. It starts with the Mahabhishek, Abhisek, Gitapath, and Bhagwat Path. In the evenings there are Geet Govind and Aarti. The devotes can their place for participating in these pujas. The temple committee has a process for the same. The devotees can also offer special pujas, even online now. There are no tickets for general pujas and darshan.
- Puja timings – The pujas start as early as 4:30 am with Mahaabhishek.
- Temple opening time- The temple is opened for darshan around 7-8 am.
- Recess – There is a recess from 1-4 pm. The temple opens at 4 pm after recess.
- Closing time- The temple closes at 9 pm.
The Rawal, who belongs to a community from Karnataka and Kerala, is dedicated to offering pujas. The temple is opened for six months of the year from April- May to October-November. Every year, the temple opens on the day of Vasant Panchami.
Top places to visit at Badrinath
- Seek blessings at Badrinath temple – The prime attraction is the Badrinath temple. The spiritually charged environment of the temple appeases the visitors. As you offer puja here, there is a sense of divine bliss that fills your heart. For an enriching experience, spend some quiet moments here, the divine emancipates in every temple element.
- Tapt Kund – No visit to Badrinath is considered incomplete without a dip at the Tapt Kund. The pool is believed as the home of Lord Agni. It is also believed to wash away the sins committed during a lifetime. A dip in the hot ware spring takes away all the tiredness and is extremely rejuvenating.
- Vyas Gufa – Located in close proximity of the Badrinath temple, the Gufa is known to be the very place where Veda Vyas is said to have written the great epic Mahabharata. The place is very sacred and is visited by several devotees every day. You can also offer small pujas here.
- Mana Village – Mana Village, the last Indian village on the Indo- Chinese border is 4 km from Badrinath town. If enthusiastic about hilly villages, you can add Mana village to your itinerary. These added perks make Char Dham Yatra even more enriching.
How to reach Badrinath?
- By flight – The nearest airport is located in Dehradun. You can drive from Dehradun to Badrinath via Chamba-Missouri Rd. It is a long journey of around 8 hours; you can take breaks and even a night halt at Joshimath.
- By train – The nearest railway station is Haridwar. From here you can take a bus or hire a car to reach Badrinath.
- By Bus – There are no direct buses for Badrinath; however, tourist buses take devotees from Haridwar and Rishikesh. They offer single or Chardham Yatra.
- By Helicopters– Badrinath can also be reached by helicopter. Helicopter services are available from Dehradun.
The Chardham Tour Packages include all these kinds of travel options for tourists.
Accommodation in Badrinath
Badrinath is a quaint town in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand. You can visit Badrinath as a part of the Chardham Yatra Package. At least 90% of pilgrims coming for pilgrimage prefer Packages. It offers a wide range of accommodation choices for travelers. From luxury hotels to budget accommodations, Badrinath welcomes every type of devotee with the best possible compromise. There is a government-run GMVN resort also. For a better understanding of accommodation, choices, and prices, look at the below table.
Accommodation Types
Standard from INR. 2500.
Resort from INR. 5000.
Luxury Hotels from 6000-8000.
Dormitory / Dharmashala from INR. 600-800.
Thus, ready to your bags for Chardham Yatra Uttarakhand divine destinations and unlock its mysteries.
