Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Badrinath is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage. Badrinath is in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, at an elevation of 3133 m. The holy shrine here is the Badrinath Temple dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu. The temple is stated to be of Vedic origin and over the years has undergone many renovations.
The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, about 337 km from Badrinath.
The nearest railway stations to Badrinath are at Rishikesh and Kotdwar, which are at a distance of 297 km and 327 km respectively.
There are regular buses operating to Badrinath from Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh.
There are certain timings to visit Badrinath by car/bike after opening of the temple, as routes are narrow from Pandukeshwar on some places. As of 2018, roads are open by the time 8AM to 8PM. There is a checkpost near Pandukeshwar, around 23 km from Joshimath (a good place for a journey break). So check the timings before start your journey.
Only a few kilometres from the India-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. The temple and its substantial surrounding village are accessible by road. One can visit the last Indian village Mana during the visit of the temple which is around 4 km from the temple and easily accessible by the roads. Many people prefer to reach Badrinath shrine starting early morning from Joshimath have darshan of Lord Vishnu and return to Joshimath by evening to avoid any altitude problems. The temple is open only from May to October and the dates are announced through the media.
The area experiences a cool and chilly climate all through the year. May to June and again from September to October are the best period to visit. Winter is severe and snowfall is common. The monsoon period from July to mid September is best avoided for your journey as landslides and road blocks are quite common.
Ancient coins, wool, Ayurvedic medicine, holy books, counterfeit electronic goods from China, sacred threads, seashells, temple requirements, aarti booklets, colourful beads and bracelets.
Indian and only vegetarian food. Non vegetarian foods are not allowed on this pilgrimage route beyond Rishikesh. There are several eateries around the temple some of which have decent eating atmosphere. Do not expect luxury as all business here are seasonal. All shops remains closed after the yatra season is over.
No alcohol permitted, but (illegal) marijuana, etc., is widely available.
Lots of hotels and ashrams. If you are low on cash you can always stay in an ashram; food is also provided by ashrams. If you are adventurous you can bring along your tents and camp here. There are some locals who can also provide you ready-made tents to stay. Hotel Narayan Palace, near the bus stand, and Sarovar Portico are luxury hotels with a reasonable tariff.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division