Travel Tips for Badrinath

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Badrinath Dham dedicated to Lord Badri needs no introduction. Located gracefully on the banks of the holy Alaknanda River and against the backdrop of the majestic twin mountain peaks of Nar and Narayan, Badrinath Dham is an iconic sign of well-preserved spirituality in India. The temple receives lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from across the globe each year on their way to attain moksha since the temple is a part of all India and the Chota Char Dham Yatra. Perched on an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level the holy town is blessed with unmatched natural Himalayan beauty and pure, untainted spirituality.

If you are planning to book a Badrinath travel package then it is a good idea to check out some important travel tips that will enable you to navigate the place better and have a memorable time.

Places to Stay in Badrinath

Being an important place of pilgrimage, Badrinath has several options for staying and accommodation. It has numerous stay options for people travelling on different budgets. There are Dharamshala, GMVN stay options, 3-star hotels and guesthouses available to stay in Badrinath.

It is advisable to book a hotel in Joshimath which is just 45 kms away from the main temple since there are many different accommodation options available. Make sure to book hotels in Badrinath or a Badrinath holiday package way before time since it gets very busy during the peak pilgrimage season and it gets very difficult to book any hotel room on the spot.

Things to Do in Badrinath

The primary attraction in Badrinath remains the main temple of Badri Vishal. Other than paying your respect to the Lord Vishnu idol in the temple there are many other interesting things to do in Badrinath.

  • Take a holy dip in the soothing and calming waters of Tapt Kund. It is a natural hot water spring located just 1 km below the main temple location of Badrinath. It is said that taking a dip here will rid you of all your body pain and skin problems.
  • Hike up to the point where the first footstep of Lord Vishnu was placed while he had once descended from his heavenly abode to the earthly realm. He had made his way down to earth as a response to the meditation and prayers of Lord Krishna. The hike up to the Charan Paduka location near Badrinath is easy and can be easily done with your family.
  • Meditating at Brahma Kapal is a one-of-a-kind experience. Located right behind the main temple of the Brahma Kapal is a group of ancient rocks, believed to be a very holy place and a place where people go to perform the Pind Daan procession of their loved ones.
  • Visit the last village of India in Mana. Located behind the temple and just 3-4 kms away from Badri Vishal, you can head up to this village for some snacks and tea on the Indo-Tibetan border.
  • Enjoy a moment of peace in the holy cave where Mahabharata was written. Vyas Gufa is located very close to Badrinath Temple and it is the place where Lord Ganesha had penned down the entire epic Mahabharata in one go without stopping that was being narrated by one of the greatest sage, seer and saint, Ved Vyas.

Pind Daan in Badrinath

Many people travelling to Badrinath go there with the purpose of performing the Pind Daan ceremony. If you are travelling to Badrinath with the same purpose, then here is everything you need to know about it. The process is very simple. You will simply have to go to the temple one day prior to the suggested date of Pind Daan. You will then be required to get a ticket of price rupees 31/- from the temple. The next morning at 6:30 am you will be given a Bhog which you will be taking to the Ghat. There will be several priests there who will perform the Daan for you.

The Pind Daan takes place in 3 steps: 1. the actual Pind Daan. You will be expected to give some Dakshina to the priests first. 2. This will be followed by a procession called Tarpan which will take place at the Brahma Kapal location of the temple. 3. The final step is the Shanti Havan. This whole process will take 1 – 1.5 hours.

Places to Eat in Badrinath

Being located in a remote location on the higher reaches of the Himalayas, you should not expect high-quality food or a fine dine restaurant. There are only a handful of eating places like small family restaurants and Dhabas. They serve food made from locally available resources with North Indian along with some Indo-Chinese food items. Keep in mind that being an extremely holy place of worship, no non-vegetarian food is served or made here. People prefer eating at restaurants located close to the temple like Sarveshwari Restaurant, Venkatesh Restaurant, Saket Restaurant, and Mishra Restaurant. Food available in Badrinath is delicious and very affordable for the whole family to have fulfilling meals.

Must Pack Essentials for Badrinath

Badrinath is located on an elevation of over 10,000 feet above sea level and you should be prepared to keep yourself warm. Some of the must-pack essentials that you should not miss out on packing include – a valid ID proof, warm clothing, and accessories like woollen gloves, mufflers, and socks, heat packs for your feet and fingers in case your toes get extremely cold by sunset, sunglasses, a first aid kit, water-purifying tablets and cash (not card).

The Most Convenient Way to Reach Badrinath

The most convenient way of reaching Badrinath is to go there by helicopter. The trip to Badrinath by helicopter starts from the Sahastradhara Helipad in Dehradun and lands at the Badrinath Helipad. This helipad is just 1 km away from the temple. The puja rituals won’t take more than 2 hours and after that, the helicopter will take you back to the helipad in Dehradun.

These are some essential travel tips for Badrinath, curated by expert travellers with the intention of making the trip of every devotee completely worth it.

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