Rishikesh Live

Distance from Rishikesh to Badrinath: 297 Km.

How to reach Badrinath from Rishikesh, Uttaranchal

From private taxi:
From Rishikesh take NH58 for Shivpuri – Continue on NH58 for Dev Prayag - Srinagar - Rudraprayag - Karnprayag - Chamoli - Joshimath – Govindghat - Badrinath

From Bus:
You have to take early morning bus to Joshimath. The bus will around 10-11 hours to reach Joshimath. From Joshimath you can either go by taxi or Bus to Badrinath. If you reach Joshimath after 4pm then you have to go for overnight stay in Joshimath only, as night driving is not allowed in Joshimath – Badrinath Route.

About Badrinath:

Badrinath is one of the oldest Hindu places of worship. On the right bank of the river Alaknanda lies the sacred shrine perched at an altitude of 3133 m above sea level, guarded on either side by the two mountain peaks Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth peak providing a splendid back-drop. Also known as the Vishal Badri, the largest among the five Badris, it is revered by all as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu. Once the spot was carpeted with 'badris' or wild berries and hence was famous as 'Badri Van'.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull & spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the vedic age and the original temple is believed to be built by King Pururava and the icon of the lord carved by Vishwakarma, the craftsman of the gods. A Hindu reformist Adi Shankaracharya re-enshrined the temple back in the 8th century.

Best time to Visit Badrinath:

The best time to visit Badrinath is between May-June and September-November. Due to heavy rainfall in the area, visitors may face difficulty reaching the temple during monsoon season (late June to Aug). The temple usually remains open from first week of May to 2nd week of November. Warm clothes are recommended all year. It is never too hot even in the summers, with night temperatures falling to as low as 10°C. This makes it a pleasant retreat from the other tropical places in the country.

Places to Visit in Badrinath

Tapt Kund: Devotees take a holy dip in the natural thermal springs on the banks of the river Alaknanda, before entering the Badrinath Temple. The water of the kund is believed to have medicinal properties.

1. Brahma Kapal: A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda where Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.
2. Sheshnetra: A boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent - known as Sheshnag’s eye.
3. Charanpaduka: The footprints of Lord Vishnu can be seen on a boulder in this beautiful meadow.
4. Neelkanth: A Pyramidical-shaped snowy peak towering above Badrinath, popularly known as the ‘Garhwal Queen’.
5. Mata Murti Temple: On the right bank of Alaknanda stands the temple dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji.
6. Mana Village: Inhabited by Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is considered to be the last Indian village before Tibet on this route. Nearby are Vyas Gufa - the rock cave of saint Ved Vyas, the writer of Maharashtra; Bhim Pul - a natural bridge over the Saraswati river and Vasundhara Falls - a 122 mts. high waterfall - all forming an important part of the pilgrimage to Badrinath.

Where to stay in Badrinath:

Dharamshala and Tourist Rest House are available for a comfortable and economical accommodation. There are luxury hotels in Badrinath for accomodaiton.

For eating out there are various restaurants like: Vijaya - Laxmi Restaurant, Saket Restaurant, Urvashi Restaurant and Several other restaurants, Liquor and non-vegetarian food are prohibited.