Badrinath Temple Uttarakhand | One of the 4 Dham of India
Being situated on the edges of the Alaknanda River, Badrinath is an attraction that is mainly known for its stone carving structure of the temple. This temple is located under the shadow of snow-capped Nilkantha. Badrinath temple Uttarakhand is dedicated to Hindu Lord Vishnu and it is also one of the Char Dhams (four important pilgrimages) in the Uttarakhand state of India. The other three Dhams are Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri. This temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayan range in the Chamoli district of the Uttarakhand state of India. It is located at an elevation of 10300 feet from sea level. In recent years, it has attracted many tourists all over the world and became the most important religious hub in Northern India.
How to Reach Badrinath Temple
Reaching Badrinath is not a big deal but, yes you need to know some hidden information before you go.
Being one of the Char Dham there is easy connectivity to reach the Badrinath
temple.
By Air
Jolly Grant at
Dehradun, Uttarakhand is the nearest airport to reach Badrinath Dham. It is further
310 km from the airport. Many flight options are available from
Delhi to reach Jolly Grant. There are private taxis on sharing and personal
basis to reach further. Government buses are available from the airport to reach
the Badrinath temple.
By Train
Haridwar, Dehradun, and Rishikesh are the railheads if you are
traveling by train. The temple is further 230 to 250 km from each railway
station. As it is one of the Hindu temples it is well connected from Haridwar,
Dehradun, and Rishikesh. Sharing taxis or personal taxis are available from each railways stations. Also
note, all the buses and taxis run in the early morning between 3 am to 8 am,
so plan your trip accordingly.
By Road
Badrinath has descent road connectivity and it is further well connected from major cities by road. Alternatively, you can drive up to the Badrinath temple in your own vehicle. Make a note that you have to leave early morning before 7 am if you are driving with your own vehicle. The road is passing through the Ghat area where night driving is risky.
My dream of exploring India brought me to the Badrinath
temple. Some of you might have the same dream, right? Then why are you waiting for?
Take your bag pack and start heading towards your dream.
A sudden thought of exploring North India brought me close
to my dreamland. Our plan was to explore Kedarnath Dham and then to Badrinath Dham at the same
time. As per the plan we had explored the Kedarnath Dham and it was now time to
explore the Badrinath temple of Lord Vishnu (second Dham). This place can also be reached by road from nearby cities like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. The
average distance to the Badrinath from this location is 250 km.
As decided we left Sonprayag near Kedarnath and started our journey to
Badrinath Dham in GMOU local bus at 5 am in morning. The GMOU buses are not
that comfortable to sit for a long time but, you won’t be having many options to
reach Badrinath. If you are traveling to Badrinath then most of the buses run in the early morning between 3 am to 6 am, the reason it normally takes 10 to 12 hours
to reach the Badrinath. If you want to travel to Badrinath from Kedarnath then you
must leave early morning because the frequency of buses is very low from Kedarnath
to Badrinath.
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| Local buses of Garhwal express from Sonprayag to Badrinath temple |
If you have ever not explored the drive to the deadly road then
you are not so far from your dream, yes trust me the road that goes to the
Badrinath is one of that deadly roads to drive but it is that adventurous too. The
road that passes through the gorgeous Govind wildlife sanctuary looks so
spectacular but, sometimes the spectacular roads can be scary and dangerous
too. While you pass through the Govind sanctuary you also witness the gorgeous
view of Valley of Flowers. It took us 12 hours to reach the Badrinath bus terminal.
After reaching Badrinath we head to the hotel near the bus terminal and left to attend the Aarti
at Badri temple. The aarti time is at 7 pm in the evening. From the hotel the
distance to the temple was not more than 15 min by walk but, as the temperature
was falling down it was too cold in the evening. We walked the footbridge before the temple arrives. The shimmering water of River Alaknanda and its soothing sound of water attract travelers. The glimpse of hot water Taptakund just beside the river looks beautiful.
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| Govind wildlife sanctuary route that goes to Badrinath |
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| Govind wildlife sanctuary- one of the deadly roads to drive |
The structure of the temple is so beautiful; it was another
dream come true from Char Dham. As you cross the bridge of the Alaknanda river you
witness the Taptakund just beside the temple. Many pilgrimages take the bath in
the hot water springs before moving into the temple. It hardly takes 15 min
for the queue to enter the temple. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the
temple. Many guards are standing in surrounding to keep a watch on your camera,
so better not to take pictures inside the temple otherwise you will be fined. We
halted here for almost 2 hours to feel the cold weather of Badrinath Dham. The
temperature was 2 degrees by the time and now it was time to have something hot
in food. Hotel Krishna Kamal situated just beside the bridge was offering tasty
and delicious hot food to give some kind of calm from the cold night. The food
was so delicious, and I must recommend having your food from Krishna Kamal
hotel at Badrinath.
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| Alaknanda River view in the night |
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| Badrinath market route |
Many of you want to have a window-shopping then shops are available just outside of the Badri temple. One who has mountain sickness must avoid visiting here in the wintertime because the temperature here falls to minus. We left back on next day morning. You will not get options after 11 am to leave from Badrinath so better to have proper information of the return journey as you reach there. Book your bus ticket at the counter near the bus terminal of Badrinath.
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| Badrinath bus terminal with snow-capped mountain view in the background |
Ideal Time to Visit the Badrinath Temple
As you know it is located in the range of Himalaya Badrinath
temple is open only for six months and it is closed for another six months. Temple
is open from summer to monsoon and right before starting of the winter.
It is best to visit the temple in the summer months when the
temperature ranges from 8 degrees to 19 degrees. A time when you enjoy the
temperature and local ride to the Mana village near Badrinath temple.
Winters are very cold here. The temperature in winter ranges
from 4 degrees to -5 degrees. You need to carry proper clothing if you are
visiting here in the winter season. October and November month may welcome some
snowfalls with rain.
Budget Stay near Badrinath Temple
When you get down at the Badrinath bus stop, there are so many
guest houses and hotels available within walkable distance. The room range starts
from 500 INR to 4000 INR as per economics to deluxe rooms along with guesser availability.
In non-season time you even have the right to bargain with hotels. I had got the
room in 500 INR only but, I had to pay 100 INR extra for two buckets of hot
water for a bath. You can also camp if you have your own camping gear.
Food Availability at Badrinath Temple
Things to Remember while Visiting the Badrinath Temple
- No private travels or Volvo to reach the Badrinath Dham, the only option is Government buses of the Garhwal region.
- Book your bus ticket a day before you leave for Badrinath as there are limited buses.
- Carry some food in the bag, the journey is too long and you will hardly get any option to eat.
- Carry extra water with you during the bus journey.
- Carry warm clothes to keep you warm throughout your trip.
- Carry basic medicines for motion sickness.
- Do not litter the area around you.
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