Badrinath India- India Vacation Packages

Cradled in between the mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan, Badrinath is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage centres. With majestic Neelkanth mountain as the backdrop, this holy town, situated along the left bank of river Alaknanda, is the holiest of four shrines (Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri)located in the Garhwal hill. Situated at an altitude of 3,133 mts above sea level, it is home to the shrine of lord Vishnu. It is believed that the present Shri Badrinathji temple was built by the Garhwal kings two centuries ago. Altogether there are 15 idols in the temple complex and each of them has been painted in black. Most popular is the Vishnu idol which is in a meditative posture and flanked by idol of Nar-Narayana. As per another legend, this temple was built by the Hindu saint Adi Shankarachary in the 8th AD century.

Besides being an important religious centre, Badrinath has an incredible scenic beauty. It is one of the most scenically beautiful places of India with lofty terrain, curves and cliffs. The cool climate and calm atmosphere of this town will have a soothing effect on the visitors. There are many recreational activities which visitors can try. The beautiful terrain of the Badrinath will tempt the tourists to go for trekking or mountaineering expedition. This holy town is located in the Uttaranchal state of India.

Prime Site
Badrinath is blessed with some of the most majestic monuments and natural beauty. Shri Badrinathji temple which is dedicated to lord Vishnu is the most popular attraction. Each year around six lakh pilgrims from all over the world visit this holy temple. This temple has been divided into three parts- the garbha griha or sanctum sanctorum; the 'darshan mandap' where most of the rituals take place and the 'Sabha Mandap' where devotees gather. Tapt Kund, a hot natural spring situated on the bank of Alaknanda river is another important holy site. It is must for the pilgrims to take dip in the water before entering main temple.

Some other important site are Brahma Kapal, Sheshnetra, Charanpaduka and Neelkanth. The towering Neelkanth mountain, popularly known as Garhwal queen, is haven for the nature lover.

Fairs and Festivals
This sleepy town comes alive during the fairs and festive season. The whole town is thronged with people during this time. Some of the major fairs and festival are Mata Murti Mela, Janmashtami and Badri Kedar festival. Mata Murti Mela is celebrated in the month of September. During this fair, priests of Badrinath temple offer their prayers to the mother of lord Badrinath. In Janmashtami, special prayers and festivities are held in the temple. Other than this, various Hindu festivals like Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchmi, Shivaratri, Holi, Deepawali etc are celebrated in equal joyous and spiritual manner.

Around Badrinath
The holy town of Badrinath is neighbored by many wonderful places. The natural beauty of the area is simply awe-inspiring. Nestled in the high altitude Garhwal hill, the beauty of these places cannot be captured in words and can only experience after a tour. Popular nearby attractions are Mana village, Alka Puri, Sato Panth ,Govind ghat, Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath, Auli, Valley of flowers, etc. For all those nature lovers, valley of flowers is a must see place. This scenic valley located 42 km away is a national park. With river Pushpawati flowing through it, the beauty of this valley will enchant visitors.

Holy Hemkund lake located near the valley of flower is sacred place for Sikhs and Hindus. It is associated with Sikh spiritual Guru, Gobind Singh. Another popular nearby destination is Auli. This town offer brilliant opportunity for the winter sports like skiing.

General Information
Climate: In Badrinath, winter starts from November and ends in April. Winter is quite harsh and temperature dips to sub zero. Tourists need to carry heavy woolen clothes to protect themselves from biting cold. Summer month is quite pleasant with temperature hovering around 18 to 19 degree. During summer also tourists need to have light woolen clothes with them. The most appropriate time to visit Badrinath is from May to October.

Accommodation: Many Dharamshalas and Tourist Rest Houses offer economical and convenient stay for the visitors.

How To Reach
By Air: The nearest airport from Badrinath is Jolly Grant Airport located in Dehradun. It is at a distance of 317 km and taxis can be availed to reach here.

By Train: The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh which is at a distance of 297 km and Kotdwar which is 297 km away.

By Road: This town is well connected with nearby town like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other famous hill town of the Garhwal area.