Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple or the Badrinarayan Temple is one of the holiest shrines in Char Dham Yatra in Himalayas. Badrinath Temple is not only one of the Char Dham Pilgrimage sites but also is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishu.

Badrinath Temple opens for only 6 months every year from April-May to September-November owing to the extreme weather in the Himalayas. This year, Badrinath Temple will open on 1st May 2010 and will close on 10 days after Deepavali or Diwali in 2010.

There are 15 idols in the Badrinarayan temple complex which are sculpted in black stone. The main idol of Lord Vishnu is of black stone and is seated in meditative pose.

Badrinath Temple | Char Dham Temples - Badrinath Temple | Char Dham Yatra

The Badrinath Temple also enshrines the images of Garuda (Vahana – vehicle of Lord Vishnu) and Goddess Maha Lakshmi. Badrinath Temple is believed to have been built by Guru Adi Shankaracharya - an 8th century’s philosopher-saint from Kerala. Adi Shankara had also established a ‘math’ here. Next to the Badrinath temple is the Tapt Kund - a natural thermal spring on the banks of the river Alaknanda, where devotees usually take a holy dip before entering the temple. The water of Tapt Kund is said to have medicinal properties.