Dham of the Chardham circuit
Badrinath Dham
The last Dham — Vishnu's seat between Nar and Narayan peaks
Altitude
3,133 m (10,279 ft)
Location
Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
Best time
May to June, September to October
Open
End April / early May → Mid-November
About Badrinath Dham
Badrinath Dham completes the Chardham circuit. The colourful temple, framed by Neelkanth peak and built on the bank of the Alaknanda, enshrines Lord Vishnu as Badri Vishal — a self-manifested black Saligram murti said to have been re-installed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.
Religious significance
One of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavism and a Char Dham of the all-India circuit defined by Shankaracharya. The hot sulphur spring of Tapt Kund at the temple base is used by pilgrims to bathe before darshan.
How to reach
Fully road-connected via Joshimath and Vishnuprayag (around 310 km from Rishikesh). Heli services from Sahastradhara and other points are also available for the Badrinath sector.
Darshan timings
Open daily 04:30 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 21:00; Maha Abhishek aarti before sunrise (advance booking)
Weather
Day 12–18°C, nights cold; high altitude effects are mild but real. Snowfall closes the route soon after Diwali.
Nearby places
- Tapt Kund hot spring
- Mana village — last Indian village before Tibet
- Vyas Gufa and Ganesh Gufa
- Bheem Pul
- Vasudhara Falls trek
FAQs about Badrinath Dham
Can I see Mana village in the same trip?
Yes — Mana village is just 3 km beyond Badrinath and almost every package includes a half-day visit.
What is the Maha Abhishek and how do I book it?
Maha Abhishek is the pre-dawn bathing ritual of Badri Vishal. Tickets are limited and best reserved through the temple committee a few weeks ahead — we handle this on request.
Is Hemkund Sahib visit possible alongside Badrinath?
Yes, Hemkund Sahib is a popular add-on with a 14 km return trek from Govindghat; we offer combined Chardham + Hemkund packages.