Places to Visit in Badrinath

Badrinath Dham is not only famous for being home to the abode of Lord Shiva or Badri Narayan. The entire region is steeped in a mystical charm and a very positive aura which you must remember to make the most of. Travelling and exploring some nearby tourist attractions can be one way of getting in closer touch with nature and the higher power. If you are travelling to this sacred pilgrimage town then here are some of the must visit places to truly feel the devotional aura here:

Mana Village

Located at a comfortable distance of 4.5 km from the temple of badrinath is the last village of India right before the indo Tibetan / China border. The village graces the bank of the holy Saraswati River and displays a grand, lush and scenic panoramic view of the surrounding Himalayan hills. People come here to take a break from the chaotic crowd of pilgrims in Badrinath and take a sip of the delicious tea and snacks in the last tea stall of India. It is also a much rejoiced destinations among people seeking solitude and relief by going on peaceful holidays to offbeat destinations. The fact that the Pandavas brothers are believed to have spent a few days here adds spiritual value to this place as well.

Bheem Pul

This iconic and legendary Pul or bridge is one of the main attractions in and around badrinath. It is a very unique bridge which looks like it has been made out of a natural rock. The story about this place tells us about the strength of Bheem and how he had listed a piece of mountain rock from around there so that Draupadi could easily cross the river when the brothers had made their way to Badrinath Dham. People come here to take a closer look at the nature and walk on the path of the Pandava brothers. The Pul is situated on top of the stream of a river with pure and tranquil natural beauty on both the sides making it the perfect place for a photo op.

Charan Paduka

Located in close proximity to the temple of badrinath is an extremely holy site and a shrine of lord Vishnu that should be visited if you have a few days of travelling. It is the perfect opportunity for a trekker to go further and offer their prayer to the rock structure of a small temple which is surrounded and strewn all around by other larger mountain rocks. The meadow here is green and the terrain is also jagged but the walk up to the elevation of 3,380 metres above sea level is something breathtaking that you will experience in your life. It is said that after much penance done by Uddhav (Lord Krishna’s minister) lord Vishnu himself had arrived on earth by first setting foot here.

Vasudhara Falls

Falling down from a height of 400 feet from the face of a mountain is the grand Vasudhara waterfalls. Placed at a distance of 4 km from Badrinath Dham and making its way through the village of Mana, this waterfall is truly of divine nature. The waterfall is situated at a comfortable distance that can be covered by a brief stroll and amidst one of the most beautiful valleys of badrinath below, this place, in the past, had served as one of the resting places for the Pandavas brothers. It is believed that anybody who is impure at heart does not really get to experience the divine nature of this place. With the sound of the water gushing down and the vibe of positivity in the air this is a place to be especially if you are a nature lover.

Ganesh / Vyas Gufa

This is probably one of the most historically significant locations not only in Uttarakhand but also in India. It is here that the epic Hindu text of Mahabharata was written. The cave is the same place where Vyas had sat down and dictated the entire Mahabharat to Ganesh who was in another cave that is known by this name, and was continuously writing this epic with the help of his tusk in one single go without stopping. These 2 caves are located at a mere distance of around 3 to 4 km from the temple and can also be included to visit during your Yatra for Badrinath. If you want to take glimpse back at the Indian mythological historical account then this place is a must visit.

Excursion from Badrinath

Valley of Flowers

Valley of flowers or better known as its abbreviation VOF is one of the most iconic national parks in India and even the world. This UNESCO world heritage site represents untouched natural beauty with the distinctive feature being the absence of trees. This is a heavily protected zone and adorning the Chamoli region it was first discovered by frank smythe and his partner while he got detoured to this place accidentally. It is known for its wonderful collection of unique flowers, one of a kind bushes, alpine flowers and impeccable greenery which seems to be the dominant feature in this piece of heaven on earth.

Hemkund Sahib

India is not only the land of Hindu pilgrimages but being a secular country numerous other pilgrimages also take place on the hills of Uttarakhand. Hemkund Sahib is one of the most highly revered Sikh pilgrimages of India which takes the devotee to the place of penance of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This holy lake of Hemkund which is surrounded by towering and majestic jagged peaks is situated at a distance of 42 kms from Badrinath temple, 18 km from Govind Ghat and 36 km from Joshimath. Mostly people make their way to this holy place of worship when the ice melts and following the paths winding through the icy coverings. Reaching this iconic place is very difficult and requires the pilgrims to be in good health but in the end all these efforts and hard work is totally worth it.

Pandukeshwar

This holy pilgrimage town is located en route the temple of Badri Vishal and displays some of the most off beat beauty of the Garhwal Himalayas. Located at a distance of just 18 kms from Joshimath this holy place has found its mention in various Hindu texts for being the place of worship of king Pandu from Mahabharata. This place is not only spiritually and culturally vibrant but the natural beauty found here is equally impeccable. The 2 most important temples here are – Yogadhyan Badri temple and the temple of Lord Vasudev. During the winter time after the shutting down of Badrinath Dham the idol of Badri Narayan is transferred to Vasudev temple here which is believed to have been built by the Pandava brothers themselves.

Auli

Also better known as the winter skiing destination in India and famous for its stark white expansive snow cover, Auli is a real top notch winter retreat. People from all over the world visit this place from where one can even get some of the most fabulous views of the surrounding Bandarpoonch Parvat among other ranges. Swoop down the snow clad hills and through the rolling mountains and feel the wind in your face. The perfect getaway you need with your family, friends and loved ones. Not just this you can even choose to go and explore the nearby snow covered Bugyals and the famous Auli Lake, where you will realize that each place is more beautiful than the other making every moment here picture perfect.

Vishnu Prayag

Situated at a comfortable road journey of around 2 to 3 hours is one of the most significant parts of the Panch Prayag Yatra that takes place in Uttarakhand. Due to its location in between Joshimath and Badrinath this holy place of worship is where the rivers of Dhauli Ganga and Alaknanda meet creating a very beautiful site. Located on an elevation of 1,372 metres above sea level this same place where Narad is said to have worshipped and performed penance to lord Vishnu who himself came here and offered his blessings to him. Taking a holy dip in the Vishnu Kund here allows you to wash yourself off all sins and attain moksha. Not only is this place every spiritual seeker’s dream destination but it is also a real mark of brilliant natural beauty.