Badrinath is one among the four major Char Dham pilgrimage sites of India as well as the Chota Char Dham. It is perched at an average elevation of 3,300 metres (10827 feet) above sea level on the banks of Alaknanda River. Badinath is nestled between the Nar and Narayan mountain range and in the shadow of the mighty Nilakanth Peak. There are a good number of turquoise lakes, beautifully stunning mammoth peaks and sacred ponds as well as water bodies that add to the beauty of Badrinath and make your Badrinath trip a memorable experience.
There has been a huge influx of tourists, devotees, pilgrims and visitors to Badrinath ever since the door of the Badrinath shrine opened for the public on May 8, last month. You might also be thinking about visiting Badrinath in the near future, but don’t know how to plan the trip. If you want to get enlightened about your future Badrinath trip, then you are in the right place. Here in this post I will talk in detail from the start of the trip till you complete it.
So, keep on reading——–
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Get your Char Dham registration done
For those planning to visit the temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, or Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, a Char Dham registration is mandatory. The facility for getting a biometric registration document is quite simple to obtain. The first thing you must do before starting the Badrinath trip is to get your Char Dham registration done.
As per the Government of Uttarakhand travel policy, It is necessary to register yourself and your vehicles before you start your journey to Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib.
It is also essential to verify yourself at the destinations when you reach each shrine.
The registration process is quite simple and you can avail the facility either online or offline. There is no fee involved in the Tourist registration process. The modes of registration include 1) Online through this Web Portal 2) Mobile Application (Download Android App & iOS App ) 3) Physically at any of the locations mentioned here through kiosks or hand held devices manned by trained personnel (Yatri Mitra). There are several physical registration points operating at Haridwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Uttrarkashi, Sonprayag, Badrinath, and Rishikesh.
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When to plan your Badrinath Trip
Badrinath Temple usually remains open for visitors from late April or early May to late October or mid-November. The rest of the year, the temple remains closed due to heavy snowfall. This year the shrine has already been opened for the visitors since May 8 and its closure date is tentatively fixed on November 20. Thus, you can plan your Badrinath trip accordingly.
One of the best times to visit Badrinath is during the summer. Summer in Badrinath takes place between May and June. During these months, temperatures range from 7 to 18 degrees Celsius. The weather is lovely and pleasantly cool. As a result, this is an ideal time to visit Badrinath Dham for darshan. However you may experience a lot of inconveniences due to wild rush and long queues for darshan.
During the monsoon, the holy Badrinath Yatra, which takes you to one of the four Char Dhams, is not recommended at all. Rain showers are common during the monsoon season, which runs from July through September.. The occurrence of landslides could make your pilgrimage more difficult. During this time, the temperature ranges between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius. In September, the rains begin to recede resulting in the increase of pilgrims and tourists again.
For me, the best time to visit Badrinath is between September and October. There are two reasons for this. First, you have a hassle free trip starting from traveling and accommodation till darshan due to fewer visitors during this period. Second, it is the best time to enjoy nature around Badrinath. You see a lot of snow which you can’t find during the summer months. All you have to do is to bear some cold as temperature begins to fall from these months.
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How to reach Badrinath
Reaching Badrinath is not at all difficult and you can easily reach there availing of any option by Road, Rail, or through Air. There’s an easy route to reach Badrinath from Sahastradhara Helipad services to Badrinath temple by Helicopter. Gangotri and Badrinath are the only temples among all the four Chardham of Uttarakhand which are well-connected with motorable roads and can be reached directly through the road. There is no need for trekking as in the case of Kedarnath and Yamunotri trips.
Let’s have a look at the best ways to reach Badrinath.
By Air
Do you want to know how to fly to Badrinath ? The easiest and most convenient way to travel to Badrinath is by air. The nearest airport to Badrinath Temple is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is around 314 kilometres away. Regular flights connect this airport to Delhi. From here you have to cover the rest of the distance by road. You can easily get buses or hire taxis from outside the airport. The journey will take some 7-8 hours to reach Badrinath.
By Train
The nearest Railway Station to Badrinath is Rishikesh Railway Station which is at a distance of around 295 km from Badrinath on NH58. Rishikesh Railway Station is well-connected to the Central Indian Railway Network and linked to all major Stations of the country. You can choose either way from Haridwar to Badrinath or Rishikesh to Badrinath, according to your convenience. There are regular and frequent trains from Delhi to Rishikesh, Haridwar, or Dehradun. You can choose the way and continue your trip to Badrinath via roadways.
You can easily get buses for hire taxis from outside the railway stations in Haridwar and Rishikesh. However, you have to make an overnight stay either at Pipalkoti or Joshimath and start your journey afresh the following morning for Badrinath. Badrinath is approximately 45 kilometers from Joshimath and 70 kilometers from Pipalkoti.
By Road
Badrinath is well-connected by roads that connect it to the rest of Uttarakhand. From ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi , you may easily take buses or cabs to Srinagar, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. Depending on your preference, you can either travel from Haridwar to Badrinath or from Rishikesh to Badrinath.
To get to Badrinath, you can take a bus from Haridwar to Badrinath. Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Karnprayag, Srinagar and Pauri are other important points in Uttarakhand which have easy access to Badrinath.The distance between Delhi and Rishikesh is 238 kilometers while Badrinath is at a distance of 295 kilometers from Rishikesh.
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Where to stay during your Badrinath Trip
During your trip to Badrinath it is mandatory to make an overnight stay somewhere and start afresh for Badrinath next morning. The most preferred places where you can spend the night are either at Pipalkoti or Joshimath. I recommend these two places for the simple reason that they are quite close to Badrinath and if you start early, then you can visit Badrinath and come back the same evening here. Moreover, there are a lot of options for accommodation here. But, I personally ask you to first try the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) guest houses when you are looking to stay in Pipalkoti, Joshimath and Badrinath. They are the best around.
Accommodation in Pipalkoti
Pipalkoti lies on the route of the Char Dham Yatra and for this reason it is a stay point for the devotees visiting Badrinath Dham. In Pipalkoti, there are a number of accommodation options across the town. The hotels include Hotel Shivlok, Hotel Badrinath, Hotel Le Meadow, Hotel Sudarshan, Hotel Dhauli Ganga and Hotel Welcome. During my visit to Badrinath I stayed at GMVN guest house and it was a great stay.
Accommodation in Joshimath
Joshimath is another major town and stay point en route Badrinath. Many visitors and pilgrims make a night stay at Joshimath which is picturesquely located at an elevation of about 1615 meters.Joshimath, often referred to as Jyotirmath, is a holy site in Uttarakhand. It is Lord Badri’s winter abode and is revered since Adi Shankaracharya founded one of the four ‘Maths’ here in the 8th century. The place has some of the best hotels that includes The Tattva, Hotel Dronagiri, Auli Resort, Hotel Mount View Annexy, Panchavati Inn and Kiskhindha Resort.
Stay Facilities at Badrinath
Badrinath is known for more than just pilgrimage. It is a nature lover’s delight, with crisp mountain air, chilly rivers, woods, and the stark figure of the Himalayan peaks. Your day will be lengthy and tedious, whether you are there for religion, exploration, or trekking. All you’ll want at the end of the day is a nice bed. Thus when you have reached Badrinath, the first thing you need to do is to look for a decent accommodation.
There is no dearth of hotels, resorts, homestays and guest houses in Badrinath. There are even dharamshalas that cater to the needs of the pilgrims. Some of the hotels you can check in are Hotel Narayan Palace, Hotel New Snow Crest, Hotel Dhanesh, Hotel Wooden Umbrella, Hotel Kuber, Hotel Grand kailash and Sleeping Beauty Hotel.
If you are traveling to Badrinath during the peak season which is May-June or September-October make sure you have advance booking of the hotel. If you come directly, not only will you struggle to find room, but also they will charge you exorbitantly. And as I have told you earlier do check availability at the GMVN guest houses before trying these hotels.
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Travel Tips
- Please respect the place by refraining from alcohol and non-vegetarian food in the Holy Town of Badrinath.
- At an elevation of more than 3000 metres, the weather at Badrinath is always chilly no matter when you are visiting. It is advisable to carry ample woolen clothing.
- The pilgrimage to Badrinath is not as arduous as Kedarnath, however it is normal to feel a little dizzy due to low oxygen content in the air. Make sure to get yourself checked with a physician prior to the pilgrimage.
- Photography may be prohibited inside the temple, especially inside the sanctum sanctorum. Please abide by the guidelines outlined by temple authorities.
- Traveling to Uttarakhand in monsoons is a little risky as the region witness road blockages due to frequent landslides. Best time to visit Badrinath is from May-June and September-October.