Location : In the
north Indian State of Uttaranchal.
Tourist Attractions :
Joshimath, Valley of Flowers,
Govindghat, Lok-Pal Hemkund, Charan
Paduka, Mana villages, Vyas Gufa,
Shes Netra Tal, Ganesh Gufa and
Bhimpul.
Best Hangouts :
Valley of Flowers
Best Activity :
Trekking
Nearby Tourist
Destinations : Kedarnath,
Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh,
Haridwar, Hemkund Sahib, Pipalkoti
(80 Kms.), Chamoli (10 Kms.),
Srinagar (192 Kms.), Auli (57 Kms.)
When to Visit :
September to May. The Badrinath
temple opens every year in May and
closes for winter in the third of
November.
About Badrinath
Badrinath in one of the four Dhams a
devout Hindu has to visit in his
lifetime to attain salvation. An
abode of seers, saints and yogis
from times immemorial, Badrinath is
surrounded on either side by two
mountain mountain ranges known as
Nar and Naryanan, with the Neelkanth
peak providing a breathtaking
backdrop.
The legends say, that Badrinath, was
the home of Lord Vishnu in his
incarnation as Narayan. It is known
as Tapobhumi, a land for meditation
and penance and bhubaikunth, the
heaven on earth. Facing the
Badrinath temple is a hot water
spring known as Tapt Kund, known for
its medicinal properties. Other
springs here are the Narad Kund and
Surya Kund. There is a separate tank
for women.
Major Tourist
Attractions in Badrinath
Joshimath
It is believed that Adi Guru
Shankaracharya came all the way from
Kerala in 8th century AD to perform
penance here. After enlightment, he
established a religious center
(Math) here, which he called 'Jyotirmath'.
The name Joshimath is a derived from
that. Of religious interest are the
temples of Nav Durga and Narsingh.
Apart from the religious importance,
this place is unequalled for its
scenic beauty.
Valley of Flowers
This is just amazing hangout for the
flower and nature lovers. So named
because of the abundance of flowers
that bloom here. It is one of the
most picturesque valleys in the
world. Nearby flows the river
Pushpawati while the massive Rataban
peak forms a splendid backdrop. The
appropriate time to visit it is July
& August when the flowers bloom.
Govindghat
The confluence of alaknanda and
Lakshman Ganga rivers. It has an
imposing Gurudwara named after Guru
Gobind Singh. Situated between
Joshimath and Badrinath it is the
starting point for the trek to this
valley. From Gobindghat, it is 16
kms. away. Ponies can also be hired
from Gobindghat.
Lok-Pal Hemkund
This is where the Hemkund Sahib
Gurdwara, at an altitude of 4320 m
above sea-level, is located. The
climb is steep and tiring. Hemkund
Sahib is one of the most famous
Gurdwaras and is held in great
reverence by the Sikhs. Nearby is
the Lok-Pal Hemkund Lake, with its
crystal clear waters and four peaks
surrounding it.
Getting There
Air
: The nearest airport is at
Jelly Grant, 315 km away.
Rail : The nearest rail heads
are at Rishikesh, 297 km away, and
Kotdwara, 327 km away.
Road : There is bus service
to Badrinath from Rishikesh,
Haridwar, Dehra Dun, Kotdwara and
other major towns.
Accommodation
Tourist Rest House, from UP Tourism
Accommodation are available. There
are also Private Hotels and
Dharamshala and Temple Committee
Guest House. Local eateries/dhabas
which offer only vegetarian food.
Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic
drinks are prohibited. Facilities
for lodging are available at
Gobindghat and nearby Ghagria.
