Char Dham · Fourth Dham
Badrinath Dham — the complete guide
The shrine of Vishnu as Badrinarayan, between the Nar and Narayan peaks on the Alaknanda, and the final stop of the Char Dham Yatra. History, 2026 dates, the darshan and aarti process, Tapt Kund and Mana village, and how to plan it from Rishikesh.
- Elevation
- 3,133 m
- Deity
- Vishnu (Badrinarayan)
- Access
- Motorable to temple
- From Rishikesh
- ≈295 km
Opening & closing dates
The Badrinath portal date is declared on Basant Panchami at Narendra Nagar; closing is a few days after the other shrines. The estimates here follow recent years.
5 May 2026
Tuesday · Announced on Basant Panchami
The opening date is declared each year at the Tehri royal palace in Narendra Nagar; the portal opens at an auspicious hour with the first Maha Abhishek.
17 November 2026
Tuesday · A few days after the other shrines
Worship moves to the Narsingh temple at Joshimath, along with Uddhav and Kubera and Adi Guru's sceptre, for the winter.
Badrinath facts
- Elevation
- 3,133 m (10,279 ft)
- Presiding deity
- Vishnu as Badrinarayan
- Location
- Chamoli district, on the Alaknanda
- Idol
- 1 m black saligram — installed by Adi Shankaracharya
- Also
- One of the four national Dhams and 108 Divya Desams
- Tapt Kund
- Hot sulphur spring for a bath before darshan
- Winter seat
- Narsingh temple, Joshimath
- Open season
- Early May to mid-November
The shrine between Nar and Narayan
Badrinath is both one of Uttarakhand's Char Dham and one of the four national Dhams set out by Adi Shankaracharya (with Dwarka, Puri and Rameshwaram). It is also counted among the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavism.
The one-metre black saligram-stone image of Vishnu, seated in a meditative padmasana posture, is traditionally said to have been recovered from the Alaknanda — from Narad Kund — and enshrined by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.
The temple sits at 3,133 m between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, with the Neelkanth peak rising behind it. Earthquakes and avalanches have damaged it repeatedly; Garhwal kings and, later, the Holkars and Scindias funded reconstruction, and the bright painted facade is a modern addition.
About 3 km on, Mana village — long billed as the last village before Tibet and now promoted as India's "first village" — marks the edge of the settled valley, where the Saraswati river meets the Alaknanda.
Vishnu, Lakshmi and the berry tree
The badri tree
Vishnu meditated here for ages, exposed to the Himalayan snow. Lakshmi took the form of a badri (jujube) tree to shelter him. In gratitude he took the name Badrinath — "lord of the berry forest."
Nara and Narayana
The twin sages Nara and Narayana, forms of Vishnu, did penance here; the two peaks flanking the shrine carry their names.
The Pandavas' last road
The Mahabharata's final journey of the Pandavas towards heaven is placed on this route — through Mana, past Bheem Pul and up towards Satopanth and Swargarohini.
Vyas Gufa
In a cave at Mana, the sage Ved Vyas is said to have dictated the Mahabharata to Ganesha, with the Saraswati roaring alongside.
At the temple and in Mana
Tapt Kund
A hot sulphur spring at the base of the temple steps, where pilgrims take a ritual bath before darshan.
Narad Kund & Brahma Kapal
The pool where the idol was found, and a riverbank platform where shraddh and pind daan for ancestors are performed.
Charanpaduka
A rock bearing what is revered as Vishnu's footprint, a short uphill walk from the temple with valley views.
Neelkanth peak
The 6,597 m "Garhwal Queen" that towers behind Badrinath — best seen catching first light at dawn.
Vyas & Ganesh Gufa, Bheem Pul (Mana)
Caves linked to the writing of the Mahabharata, and a natural rock bridge over the Saraswati, all in Mana village 3 km on.
Vasudhara Falls
A 122 m waterfall about 9 km round-trip from Mana; said to avoid sinners with its spray.
The darshan process, step by step
- 1
Drive to Badrinath town
The road runs to the temple; no trek is needed for darshan.
- 2
Bathe in Tapt Kund
A dip in the hot sulphur spring at the temple base before entering.
- 3
Join the darshan queue
Enter through the Singh Dwara to the sanctum of Badri Vishal.
- 4
Darshan of Badrinarayan
The black saligram idol in padmasana, with Nara-Narayan, Kubera and others around him.
- 5
Brahma Kapal rites
Optional pind daan for ancestors on the Alaknanda platform behind the temple.
- 6
Visit Mana village
3 km on — Vyas Gufa, Bheem Pul, the Saraswati and the last chai stall of India.
Aarti & timings
- Maha Abhishek and Abhishek Puja begin very early, around 4:30 AM (bookable in advance).
- Bal Bhog and general darshan run through the morning.
- The temple reopens in the afternoon; Geet Govind and the evening aarti are around 6:30–7:30 PM.
- Shayan aarti closes the temple around 8:30–9:00 PM; timings shift with the season.
Offerings & rituals
- A bath in Tapt Kund before darshan is customary despite the sulphur smell.
- Brahma Kapal shraddh and pind daan for ancestors — Badrinath is a leading site for these rites.
- Bookable sevas: Ved Path, Vishnu Sahasranama, Geet Govind path and the Swarna Aarti.
- Tulsi mala, dry fruits and rock sugar (misri) as prasad to carry home.
How to reach Badrinath from Rishikesh
By road — the usual drive
- 1
Rishikesh
Via Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag along the Alaknanda.
- 2
Joshimath
≈250 km · the main overnight halt; also the base for Auli.
- 3
Convoy gates
The Joshimath–Badrinath stretch runs on timed one-way convoy slots.
- 4
Badrinath temple
≈45 km on — road runs to the temple town; Mana is 3 km further.
By air
Dehradun (Jolly Grant) airport is ≈310 km from Badrinath. Helicopter charters run from Dehradun; there is also a helipad near Badrinath used for pilgrim and rescue flights.
By rail
Rishikesh and Haridwar are the nearest railheads; the drive up the Alaknanda valley begins from there.
By road
≈295–300 km / 10–11 hrs from Rishikesh via Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath — usually two days with a Joshimath or Pipalkoti halt. The last stretch runs on timed convoy gates.
Char Dham Yatra registration
Uttarakhand requires every pilgrim to register for the Char Dham Yatra before travelling. Registration is free, and the slip is checked at barriers on the Badrinath route, so keep it and a photo ID on hand.
- Register online at the portal above, or on the “Tourist Care Uttarakhand” mobile app.
- Offline counters operate in Haridwar, Rishikesh and at points along each shrine route.
- Register each traveller with name, ID, dates and the shrines you plan to visit; you receive a QR registration slip.
- A health check / advisory may apply for travel at altitude — carry prescriptions and any medication your doctor recommends.
We complete the registration for every traveller on trips booked with us.
Season, stays & what to pack
When to go
- May – June — Peak season
Warm days, the portal freshly open and the heaviest crowds and traffic on the convoy road. - July – August — Monsoon — avoid
Landslides and convoy delays on the Alaknanda road, especially near Lambagad and Pagalnala. Keep buffer days. - September – early November — Best for a calm trip
Clear skies, sharp Neelkanth views and easing crowds right up to the mid-November closing.
Where to stay
- Joshimath — the main halt ≈45 km short, with hotels, GMVN lodges and the Auli ropeway.
- Pipalkoti — a lower, warmer road stop ≈75 km before Badrinath, useful in peak traffic.
- Govindghat / Pandukeshwar — small stops closer in; Govindghat is also the base for Hemkund and the Valley of Flowers.
- Badrinath town — GMVN rooms, dharamshalas and hotels within walking distance of the temple.
What to pack
- Warm layers and a jacket — Badrinath is cold morning and night even in summer
- A raincoat or poncho for the convoy road and Tapt Kund area
- Comfortable shoes for the temple steps and the walk around Mana
- A change of clothes for the Tapt Kund bath and a quick-dry towel
- Original photo ID for Char Dham registration checks
- Cash for offerings, Mana village stalls and small shops — cards are unreliable
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