Everything you need to know about visiting the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand

Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand needs no introduction! Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is among the sacred Char Dham temples in India. The ancient Hindu temple is known to be the source of the holy Alaknanda River and as per religious beliefs, visiting the temple washes away all the sins of a person and helps them in attaining moksha.

Here is a complete guide to the famous Badrinath Temple that will help you plan your trip.

Set in the town of Badrinath in the Himalayan Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the temple is at an elevation of 10200 ft above sea level! The grand Neelkanth Peak is right in front of the temple. The temple is nearly 45 km from Joshimath, which is also the base camp.

When it comes to the history of this ancient temple, not much is known about its age! The history books say that the temple belongs to the Vedic Age which began in about 1500 BC. The temple finds its mention in several post-Vedic texts, the Puranas. Besides, there are several legends associated with Badrinath. It's also believed that the temple was constructed in the 9th century by Adi Shankara, who was an Indian saint. He lived in Badrinath temple from 814 to 820 and asked a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala to become the chief priest here. The tradition continues even today!

The month of October is considered the best time to visit Badrinath. But the peak season is May to June and during this time, the temple gets extremely crowded. Because of the erratic weather condition, it is necessary for people to go equipped with umbrellas and warm clothes. There might be freezing nights and rainy days. In August or early September, a fair is organised here every year which is quite famous.

Apparently, Badrinath is one of the most accessible temples out of the four Char Dham shrines in Uttrakhand. The most common way of reaching the temple is by organising a day trip from Joshimath. Accommodations are available at Badrinath. The nearest railway station is at Haridwar, which is nearly 10 hours away from Joshimath. So the most convenient thing to do is book a car and driver from Haridwar which are easily available at the station.

The cars will charge on a per day basis, including a return trip. The mountainous roads leading to Badrinath from Joshimath are pretty tricky so driving at night isn't allowed. People can also opt for shared jeeps and buses from Haridwar and Rishikesh. Local government-run buses are also available from outside the Haridwar station which are cheaper options. During the peak season, traffic is generally regulated by the local police.