Badrinath

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Badrinath ji One of the most popular in the Chardham circuit, Badrinath occupies a position in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The holy destination is wonderfully located on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal region. If you're reaching here from Kedarnath, you'll need two day's travel time. It's also interesting to note that Badrinath lies very close to the Indo-China border. During the pilgrimage season, the route to Badrinath gets pretty crowded as many other holy destinations lie along the same route.

Travelling to Badrinath proves to be an enriching experience, as it provides a keen insight into the Hindu cultures and traditions. Apart from visiting the shrine and seeking the blessings of Lord Vishnu, you can also enjoy purchasing a wide range of religious and decorative items. Some of the most popular items sold close to the Badrinath shrine include Ayurvedic medicine, holy books, ancient coins, colourful beads etc.

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Badrinath Temple Guide
Dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Vishnu, the Badrinath Temple is a frequent haunt of travellers and pilgrims. The temple remains surrounded by a tiny mountain village and snow-laden Himalayan peaks from all around. To reach the temple, you need to follow this route - Haridwar-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar.

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Panch (Five) Badris
Badrinath is comprised of five badris - Vishal Badri, Yogdhyan Badri, Bhawishya Badri, Bridha Badri and Adi Badri. For more details on each of these badris and why they are so sacred, read below.

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Vishal Badri
This is the major shrine of Lord Badri Nath. The word 'Vishal' means huge in Hindi and is indicative of the significance of this badri. While praying at the Vishal Badri, devotees say 'Jai Badri Vishal Ki'.

Yogdhyan Badri
This badri is situated at Pandkeshawar. According to the Hindu traditions, it's the same place where the Pandavas handed over Hastinapur (the capital of the Pandavas) to King Prikshit. Yoghdhyan Badri lies at a distance of 20 km from Joshimath.

Bhawishya Badri
To reach the Bhawishya Badri, you need to travel a distance or 17 km from Joshimath. The word Bhawishya means 'future' in Hindi. This badri is located at an elevation of around 2,744 m above sea level.

Bridha Badri
According to Hindu mythology, it's said that Lord Badrinath was originally worshipped at the Bridha Badri or the Old Badri. The temple is located at a short distance of 7 km from Joshimath. You can visit here anytime, as it remains open throughout the entire year.

Adi Badri
Start from Karnaprayag to reach Adi Badri comfortably. The temple is mostly popular for featuring ancient temples belonging to the Gupta period. The main temple at the Adi Badri can be identified with a pyramid raised platform. A black stone idol of Lord Vishnu is enshrined here.