Badrinath Dham is the shrine of Lord Vishnu as Badrinarayan, one of the four Char Dham of Uttarakhand and one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavism. The brightly painted temple stands at about 3,133 m on the bank of the Alaknanda, between the Nar and Narayan ranges, with the snowy Neelkanth peak rising behind.
Unlike Kedarnath or Yamunotri, Badrinath can be reached by road all the way, which makes it the easiest of the four dhams for families and older pilgrims. The temple opens in late April or May and closes for winter in November; in 2026 it closes on 16 November at 9:37 pm.
The legend of Badrinath
Hindu tradition says Lord Vishnu came here to meditate. As he sat in deep tapasya, the cold and snow grew fierce, so Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a badri (Indian jujube) tree and sheltered him. Pleased, Vishnu named the place after her: Badri-nath, 'Lord of the Badri'.
Another story says the black stone idol of Badrinarayan was once thrown into the Narad Kund pool. Adi Shankaracharya recovered it in the 8th or 9th century and re-established worship here. To this day the chief priest, the Rawal, comes from Kerala, from the Namboodiri community, following that tradition.
Why go to Badrinath
One of the Char Dham
The Vishnu shrine of the four dhams, and the easiest to reach.
Tapt Kund
A natural hot spring right below the temple.
Mana and Vasudhara
The 'first village of India' and a high waterfall a short walk beyond.
Main things to see
Badrinath temple
Darshan of Badrinarayan in the colourful main shrine. Early morning is calmest.
Tapt Kund
A hot spring where pilgrims bathe before darshan.
Brahma Kapal
A flat rock on the river bank where families perform pind daan for ancestors.
Mana village
About 3 km away: Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhim Pul and the Saraswati river.
Distances from Badrinath
Places nearbyBefore you go
- Registration for the Char Dham Yatra is required; do it online before you travel.
- The road beyond Joshimath can close briefly for landslides, especially in July and August.
- The Badrinath - Joshimath stretch has fixed gate timings in some seasons; leave early.
- Carry warm clothes; mornings and nights are cold all season.
- In 2026 the Panch Puja runs 12-16 November and the temple closes on 16 November at 9:37 pm; worship then moves to Pandukeshwar and Joshimath.
Badrinath FAQs
When does Badrinath open and close?
In 2026 the temple closes on Monday, 16 November, at 9:37 pm, after the Panch Puja rituals from 12 to 16 November. It usually reopens in late April or May; the opening date is announced on Vasant Panchami.
Do I need to trek to Badrinath?
No. A motorable road goes all the way to the temple town.
Is registration needed for Badrinath?
Yes. All Char Dham pilgrims must register with the Uttarakhand tourism department, online or at registration counters.
Where is Lord Badrinath worshipped in winter?
When the temple closes, the utsav idols move to Pandukeshwar, and Adi Shankaracharya's gaddi to the Narsingh temple in Joshimath.
How many days are enough for Badrinath?
One full day for darshan, Tapt Kund and Mana village, plus travel days. Stay two nights if you also want to walk to Vasudhara falls.
