Sri
Badrinath ji
Cradled in the twin mountain ranges of nar and narayan is the holiest of the
four main shrines , badrinath along the lift bank of the river alaknanda . With
the backdrop, it is an important destination on the sacred itinerary of every
devout hindu . Once the spot was carpeted with 'badris ' or wild berries and
hence was famous as 'badri van '
The revered shrine is still alive with myriad legends from mythology . its sanctity
is emphasised in the ancient scriptures as "there are many sacred spots
of pilgrimage in the heavens , earth and the nether world ,but there has been
none equal to badri , nor shall there be " Legend has it when the ganga
was requested to descend to earth to help the suffering humanity ,
The earth was unable to withstand the force of its descent . therefore the mighty
ganga was split into twelve holy channesl . alanknanda was one of lord vishnu
or badrinath .
The temple of shri badrinathji on the bank of the alaknanda river , dates back
to the alaknanda river , dates back to the vedic times , situated at an altitude
of 3,133 mts . , the present temple is believed to have been built by adi guru
shankaracharya - an 8th century 's philosopher -saint , who also established
a math here . also known as vishal badri , badrinath is one of the panch badris
. The temple remains closed duriing the winter season and is open from april
- may to octobr - november .
General Information
Area: 3 sq . km .
Rainafall: 1460 mm
Clothing: Till May -heavy woollens, June -Sept -light woolens & Oct.
-Nov . -heavy woollens
Languages: Hindi, English and Garhwali.
How to get there
Airport: Jolly Grant, (317kms.)
Railhead: Rishikesh, (300kms .) Kotdwar ,(327 kms.)
Road: Well connected to rishikesh , Haridwar , dehradun , kotdwar And
other hill stations of Garhwal and kumaon region .
PLACES OF INTERSEST
Badrinath Temple
On the right bank of alaknanda liesl the sacred spotl perched at an altitude
of 3,133 meters above the sea level. Encircled by a beautiful valley, the 15
mts. high temple is dedicated to lord vishni. It is built in the form of a cone
with a small cupola of a ilt bull and spire.
Built by adi guru shankaracharya the philosopher-saint of the 8th centurty,
the temple has been renovated several times due to damage by avalanches. Its
colourful 'singh dwara' or the mainentrance gate give it a new, modern look.
The temple is divided into three parts the 'garbha griha' or sanctum sanctorum,
the' darshan mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'sabha mandap'
Where devotees assemble. The complex has 15 idols. Specially attractive is the
one metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents
lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose.
Tapt Kund
Devotees take a holy dip in the natural thermal springs on the banks of the
river Alaknanda , before entering the Badrinath Temple. The water of the Kund
is believed to have medicinal properties.
Neelkanth
A pyramidal-shaped snowy peak towering above Badrinath, Popularly known as the
`Garhwal Queen`.
Charanpaduka
The footprints of Lord Vishnu can be seen on a boulder in this beautiful meadow.
Brahma Kapil
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda where Hindus perform
Sheshnetra
A boulder having an impression of the legendary serpant- known as Sheshnag's
eye.
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