Introduction to Badrinath Temple

The Badrinath Temple, also known as Badrinarayan Temple, is located in Badrinath town, Uttarakhand. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, along with Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath. These sacred places attract millions of pilgrims every year.

Location and History

Badrinath is situated at an altitude of about 3,100 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges. The temple was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Due to heavy snowfall, the temple remains open only for six months a year.

Singhdwar and Temple Structure

The colourful main entrance of the temple is known as Singhdwar. The temple is about 50 feet tall with a gold-gilt roof. It consists of three parts:

Garbha Griha
Darshan Mandap
Sabha Mandap

Garbha Griha and Darshan Mandap

The Garbha Griha houses the main idol of Lord Badari Narayan, along with idols of Kuber, Narad, Uddhava, Nar, and Narayan. The black stone idol of Lord Vishnu is shown in Padmasana.
In the Darshan Mandap, the deity holds the Conch and Chakra and is surrounded by Garuda and other divine figures.

Sabha Mandap

The Sabha Mandap is the hall where pilgrims gather for prayers and religious activities.

Mana Village and Ashram Tourism

Near Badrinath lies Mana village, the last Indian village, known for its natural beauty and Bhotiya culture. The town also has several ashrams offering peaceful stays, yoga, and meditation, such as Parmarth Lok Ashram and Bholagiri Ashram.