Most Important Place Badrinath for This Summer Vacation

Geography

Badrinath , peak, 23,210 ft (7,074 m) high, in the central axis of the Himalayas, Uttaranchal state, N India. The peak has several
glaciers. At a height of c.10,000 ft (3,050 m), is an 9th-century monastery and a temple to the Hindu god Shiva, a popular pilgrimage
center built by the great Indian scholar and teacher Sjavascript:void(0)hankara.


About Badrinath Dham

One of the most celebrated pilgrim spots in the country, it plays host to the famous
Badrinath Temple. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area, called ‘Badri Van’"Badrinath
Dham” Guarded on either side by the two mountains Nar and Narayan, the Neelkanth Peak provides
a splendid backdrop to Badrinath, one of the ‘Four Dhams’. One of the most celebrated pilgrim
spots in the country, it plays host to the famous Badrinath Temple.

The Garhwal Himalayas has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world . Snow capped
peaks,misty mountains, green valleys, gushing rivers,(deodar) forests, grassy slopes, abundant
flowers and an amazing array of birds and butterflies all of which combine to make this place one
of the most charming spots on this planet. It is also one of the holiest places on earth.

The most important ones amongst these are Kubera, the God of Wealth,and Ganesha, the God of Wisdom and Prosperity.
Within the temple complex is an another shrine dedicated to Laksmi,the Goddess of Fortune. This
shrine is situated to the left of the main temple building. The front portion is painted in red.
Outside the exit door of the Badrinath Temple is the seating place of Shankaracharya,who meditated
here. The temple remains closed during winter.


History of Badrinath Temple

The Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Trinity of Creator-
Preserver-Destroyer). The presiding deity of the temple is Badrinath(another form of Vishnu),
also called Badri Vishal or Badrinarayan. Shankaracharya is believed to have installed the deity
inside the shrine after it was thrown into the Narada Kunda (a hot water spring near the temple)
in the days of Buddhist ascendancy.

Badrinath is depicted sitting in the padmasana (‘lotus posture’),in which the feet are
placed on opposite thighs. He is surrounded by a host of gods.


Place to visit in Badrinath

Bhavishya Badri : The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an elevation 3641 m, and is surrounded
by dense forests. It is located at Subain near Tapovan, about 17 km east of Joshimath on Joshimath-
Lata Malari route. Pilgrims have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga river.

Narad Kund : A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath
idol was recovered.

Charanpaduka : 3 km away is a beautiful meadow carpeted with wild flowers in the summer.Here is a
boulder bearing the footprints of Lord Vishnu. It is said that when Lord Vishnu descended from
Vaikunth (the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu) he stepped on this boulder.The area is a steep climb
from the town and is full of caves & boulders


Pilgrimage:

Located only a few kilometers from the Indo-China (Tibet) border, Badrinath is generally
a two-day-long journey from either Kedarnath, the site that precedes it in the Char Dham circuit,
or one of the main disembarkation points on the plains. Hemkund Sahib, an important Sikh pilgrimage site, is on the way to Badrinath, so the road is especially crowded during the
summer pilgrimage season.