Badrinath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal area and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites of India. This temple is one of the eight self-manifested idols of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the Char Dham Pilgrimages in India which is said to be Satya Yuga Temple.

Badrinath Temple is also among the 108 Divyadesam Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is also special among Panch Badri Temples. Other temples include Bhavishya Badri, Yog Dhyan Badri, Adi Badri, and Vriddha Badri. The holy river Saraswati originates in a glacier near Badrinath Temple.

Story Behind Badrinath Temple

According to legend, Lord Vishnu wondered here, regardless of the super weather patterns. To protect him from the cold, Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a Badri or Jujube tree. Lord Vishnu was moved by Goddess Lakshmi’s devotion and gave the location the name Badri Ashram. At this location, Lord Vishnu performed penance for the benefit of humanity. The Pandavas ascended to heaven via Mana village, which is the same location as Badrinath. It is said to be India’s last village, and in a cave there, Rishi Vyasa wrote the epic Mahabharata.

Another legend in the Vishnu Purana mentions Dharam’s two sons, Nar and Narayan. They chose Badrinath and practised Dhyana there to spread the virtues of Hinduism throughout the Himalayan region. They discovered Yog Bhadri, Bridha Badri, Dhyan Badri, and Bhavish Badri, all Badri from the Pancha Badri section while looking for the ideal location for a hermitage. They eventually settled in the hot and cold Alakananda River spring. Badri Vishal is the name given to the location. Nar and Narayan later transformed into mountains that stand beside and behind the Badrinath Temple.

History of Badrinath Temple

“According to Skand Puran, Adiguru Shankaracharya recovered the Lord Badarinath idol from Narad Kund and re-enshrined it in this temple in the 8th century A.D.”

According to Hindu tradition, Adi Shri Shankaracharya reestablished Badarinath, also known as Badari Vishal, in order to restore Hinduism’s lost prestige and unite the nation. It was built at a time when Hinduism was worried that it was losing its importance and glory as Buddhism spread throughout the Himalayan range. So Adi Sankaracharya volunteered to restore Hinduism’s greatness and built sanctuaries in the Himalayas for the Hindu Lords of Shiva and Vishnu.

The Badrinath Temple is one of these shrines, and it contains numerous sacred accounts from various ancient Hindu scriptures. The puranic tale of the Pandav brothers and Draupadi passing through on their final pilgrimage by ascending the slopes of a peak near Badarinath called Swargarohini, also known as the “Ascent to Heaven,” or the visit of Lord Krishna and other great sages are just a few of the many stories associated with this holy tirtha.

In the 16th century, the king of Garhwal relocated the Lord Vishnu idol from Padmasana Mudra to the current temple grounds. From then on, the idol was worshipped here. Following the division of the Garhwal district, the area surrounding the Badrinath Temple came under British control. Regardless, the Ruler of Garhwal continued to oversee the temple’s administration. Even so, the Garhwal and Travancore families were undoubtedly consulted when the priest or Badrinath Rawal was appointed.

In fact, the Badrinath Temple area was expanded in the 17th century by the Kings of Garhwal district. Following a significant earthquake in 1803, the King of Jaipur rebuilt the temple. From that point until the First World War, the renovation project was completed.

Architecture of Badrinath Temple

The temple has a small cupola on top and stands about 50 feet tall. It has a roof made of gold gilt. There are three parts to the Badarinath temple: a) the sanctum sanctorum, or Garbha Griha; b) the Darshan Mandap, where rituals are performed; and c) the Sabha Mandap, where pilgrims gather. Singhdwar, the colourful and imposing main gate of Badarinath temple, is a popular name. The idol of Lord Vishnu in the temple is Swayambhu.

Facts about Badrinath Temple

• The description of this Dham has come in many religious texts like Skanda Purana, Kedarkhand, Shrimad Bhagwat etc.
•  This statue of Narayana is engraved in the quadrilateral Ardhpadmasana Dhyanmagna posture.
• It is said that Lord Vishnu did penance here in the form of Narayana at the time of Satyuga.
• It is said that Tapt Kund’s hot spring water has medicinal properties. Many diseases are cured by bathing in the pot. According to the Skanda Purana, there are numerous holy shrines in heaven, earth, and hell. However, Badrinath is the only sanctum like it.
• The most significant aspect of this idol is that anyone who saw it had numerous visions of the presiding deity. Even today, adherents of all Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, and other sections come here and offer prayers.

Famous Festivals In Badrinath temple

• Krishna  Janamashtmi- Krishna Janmashtami commemorates Lord Krishna’s birth in Mathura. He is Lord Vishnu’s eighth avatar. Every August, Janmashtami is celebrated here with special pujas all day and night, as it is throughout the country.
• Badri Kedar Utsav – The tourism ministry of the Uttarakhand government has launched the week-long Badri-Kedar Utsav. Cultural festivals are held in both Badrinath and Kedarnath during July and August. The dates can be found on the website of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam.
• Closing Ceremony – The five-day ceremony begins with a special puja at the Ganesh temple before its doors close for the winter. The Adi Kedareshwar temple’s gates are closed on Day 2. On Day 3, there is a book worship, and the Ved Paath and Mantrachaar – the daily recital of mantras – are halted. The goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Day 4 before the doors of her shrine are closed. On the last day, a special shringar puja of Badrinath is performed in which the image of Lakshmi is brought into the sanctum before the main temple is closed. It will open in April/May of next year, before the summer.

How To reach Badrinath Temple

It is one of Uttarakhand’s most popular temples and is open to pilgrims from May to November. During the winter, when the deity at Joshimath’s Nar Singh Temple is worshipped, the Badrinath Temple remains closed.

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport (35 km from Dehradun) is the closest Air terminal to Badarinath arranged a ways off 314 km. With daily flights, Jolly Grant Airport is well-connected to Delhi. Badarinath and Jolly Grant Airport are well-connected via motorable roads. From Jolly Grant Airport to Badarinath, taxis are available.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Badarinath is Rishikesh. Rishikesh railway station is 295 km before Badarinath on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India.

By Road: From major Uttarakhand cities like Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Ukhimath, Srinagar, and Chamoli, buses and taxis to Badarinath are easily accessible. National Highway 58 connects Badarinath to Ghaziabad.