badrinath

Overview

The Badrinath Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage to the Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India at an elevation of 3,133 meters.
Overview & Significance
� The Deity: The temple houses a one-meter-tall self-manifested black stone idol of Lord Vishnu (Badarinarayan) seated in a meditative posture.
� Char Dham: It is a core part of both the all-India Char Dham and the Uttarakhand Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuits.
� Season: The shrine opens for about six months every year�from late April/May until November�and closes for winter due to heavy snow.

Key Attractions Nearby
� Tapt Kund: A natural hot water spring right below the temple where pilgrims take a holy dip before darshan.
� Mana Village: The last Indian village near the Indo-China border, located 4 km from Badrinath.
� Vyas Gufa: A cave in Mana where Sage Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata.
� Brahma Kapal: A flat platform on the banks of the Alaknanda River used for performing ancestral rituals and pindadan.

Travel & Planning Tips
� Route: The journey usually starts from Haridwar or Rishikesh, passing through scenic mountain routes and holy river confluences (Panch Prayag) via NH-7.
� Best Time: May to June and September to October offer the most pleasant weather. Monsoon months (July�August) should be avoided due to landslide risks.
� Registration: Mandatory biometric or online registration through the Uttarakhand Tourism portal is required before undertaking the journey.