The main entrance gate of Badarinath temple is colourful and imposing popularly known as Singhdwar. The temple is approximately 50 feet tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The Badarinath temple is divided into three parts (a) The Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum (b) The Darshan Mandap where rituals are conducted and (c) The Sabha Mandap where pilgrims assemble.
At the Badarinath Mandir Gate, directly opposite the main Idol of Lord himself, is seated idol of Bird Garud, vehicle / carrier of Lord Badarinarayan. Garud os seen is sitting position and in prayer with his hands folded. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carvings.
The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold and houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan. The complex has 15 idols. Especially attractive is the one-metre high image of lord Badarinath, finely sculpted in black stone. According to legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badarinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present loction of the temple. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose called Padmasan.
Darshan Mandap: Lord Badari Narayan is armed with Conch and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested in Yogic Pose. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. As you look, standing to the right side of Badarinarayana is Uddhava. To the far right side are Nara and Narayana. Narada Muni is kneeling in front on the right side and is difficult to see. On the left side are Kubera-the god of wealth, and a silver Ganesh. Garuda is kneeling in front, to the left of Badarinarayana.
Sabha Mandap: It is a place in the Temple complex where pilgrims and pilgrims assemble.
- In and Around Temple
- Nearby Places
In and Around Temple
Panch Shila
Narad ji stood on one foot and did severe penance on this rock for sixty thousand years.. Read More
After hearing the fruits of penance at Badarikashram from Naradji, sage Markandeya went to.. Read More
Hiranyaksha, who once took the earth (Prithvi) to the abyss (Rasatal). After the slaying of Hiranyaksha.. Read More
On this rock Garuda ji did penance for thirty thousand years and wished to become the Vahana.. Read More
When Narsingh Ji killed the demon king Hiranyakashyap. After that, seeing the fierce form of Narasingh Ji.. Read More
Kunds
Taptkund, as the name suggests is a hot water spring, which lies between Badrinath shrine and.. Read More
Narad Kund is adorned in the holy town of Badarinath and is the second prominent attraction of Badarinath.. Read More
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0.5 km / 4 mins from Temple
Others
Situated on the banks of Alaknanda River, Brahma Kapal is a place in Badarinath which is of great... Read More
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0.5 km / 4 mins from Temple
Sheshnetra is a holy place where as per Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu took retreat on a snake by name .. Read More
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0.23 km / 4 mins from Temple
Panch Dhara is a group of five water streams that originate at Badarinath. They are: Prahlad Dhara and.. Read More
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1 kms / 15 mins from Temple
Nearby Places
Charan Paduka, abeautiful rock having the foot impressions of Lord Vishnu is one of the.. Read More
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2.5 kms / 24 mins from Temple
Mata Murti Temple is a sacred Hindu temple located at a distance of 3 km from Badarinath.. Read More
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3 kms / 39 mins from Temple
Bheem Pul is located in Mana. It is 3 km from Badarinath and is built over Saraswati River.. Read More
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3 kms / 30 mins from Temple
Pandukeshwar is a sacred place located in-route to abode of Lord Vishnu 'Badarinath' at an elevation of 1829.. Read More
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22.6 kms / 34 mins from Badrinath
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May, Jun, Sep, Oct,
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Rishikesh Railway Station, 274 kms
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Jolly Grant Airport, 290 kms
Yogdhyan Badri Temple is one of holy 'Sapta Badri' or seven Badri's located at Pandukeshwar,.. Read More
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23 km from Badrinath
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May, Jun, Sep, Oct,
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Rishikesh Railway Station, 274 kms
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Jolly Grant Airport, 290 kms
Mana is a last Indian village from the border of India and Tibet/China in the Himalayas.It is one of best tourist attraction.. Read More
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4.4 kms / 9 mins from Badarinath
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May, Jun, Sep, Oct,
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Rishikesh Railway Station, 275 kms
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Jolly Grant Airport, 300 kms
Vyas Cave is an ancient cave, just few kilometers away from the famous Badarinath shrine... Read More
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5 kms from Badrinath
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May, Jun, Sep, Oct,
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Rishikesh Railway Station, 274 kms
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Jolly Grant Airport, 290 kms
The dark and ever so mysterious, Ganesha Cave cocooned in Mana village is a naturally formed cave.. Read More
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4.5 kms / 4 mins from Badarinath
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May, Jun, Sep, Oct,
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Rishikesh Railway Station, 274 kms
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Jolly Grant Airport, 290 kms
Shri BadrinathDham of Uttarakhand State of Chamoli district, is situated in the northern part between the snow-capped mountain ranges. The description of this Dham has come in many religious texts like Skanda Purana, Kedarkhand, Shrimad Bhagwat etc. According to mythology, by hearing sage prayers when the atrocities of Mahabali demon Sahasrakavacha increased then Lord Vishnu, as a son of Dharma, incarnated as a Nar-Narayan from the womb of Mata Murti (daughter of Daksha Prajapati) and did austerities at this place for Jagat Kalyana. The temple of Lord Badrinath is situated on the right bank of Alaknanda River where the self-styled statue of Shaligram stone of Lord Badrinath ji is worshiped. This statue of Narayana is engraved in the quadrilateral Ardhpadmasana Dhyanmagna posture. It is said that Lord Vishnu did penance here in the form of Narayana at the time of Satyuga. This idol is from time immemorial and is very grand and attractive. The biggest feature of this idol is that the person who saw it got many visions of the presiding deity in it. Even today, followers of all sections of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh etc. come here and offer prayers with reverence.
There is also a mythological story of why this Dham got its name Badrinath.When Lord Vishnu was in the childhood of Nar-Narayana, committed for the destruction of the demon Sahasrakavacha. So Goddess Lakshmi also appeared as a plum tree in defense of her husband and to protect God from cold, rain, storm, snow, the plum tree covered Narayana from all around.The plum tree is also called Badri. That is why this place called Badrinath. In the Satyuga, this region became famous as Muktiprada, Tretayuga as Yoga Siddhida, Dwaparyuga asVishala and Kaliyuga as Badrikashram.There is a legend in the Puranas that when Lord Vishnu started leaving this area in Dwaparyug, then other Gods urged him to stay here than Lord Vishnu indicated on the insistence ofthe other Gods that the time of Kalyug is coming and it would not be possible for him to reside here in the Kaliyuga, but he has a divine idol in the Alaknanda river under Naradashila, whoever will see that idol, he will get the fruits of my real vision.
After that other gods duly removed this divine idol from Naradkund and established it in the center of Bhairavi Chakra. The Gods also arranged for the regular worship of the Lord and NaradJi was appointed as worshiper. Even today, in the summer, Lord Vishnu is worshiped by humans for six months and during the six months in winter when heavy snow falls in this area, Lord Vishnu is worshiped by Lord NaradJi himself. It is believed that even when the Kapat of temple are closed in winter, the AkhandJyoti keeps on burning and Naradji arranges for worship and bhog. That is why even today this area is called Narad region.After six months, when the Kapat of temple are opened, AkhandJyoti burns inside the temple, for which the devotees from the country and abroad are engaged on the day of opening of the kapat.
The holy place Dharmashila, Matamurti Temple, NaranarayanParvat and two ponds namedSheshnetra, are still present today at Shri Badrinath which are associated with the story of demon sahasrakavacha's destruction. The creation of Bhairavi Chakra is also associated with the same story.This sacred area was known as Gandhamadan, Naranarayan Ashram. Manibhadrapur (present-day Mana village), NaraNarayana and Kuber mountains are worshiped as daily routine rules and rituals. The chief priests of the Shri Badrinath temple are the pure Namboodri Brahmins of the highest order among the descendants of AdiShankaracharya of Malawar region of South India. This prominent priest is known as Rawal Ji.