Attractions En-Route Badrinath Yatra

This vibrantly colorful temple of Badrinath sits majestically in the holy district of Chamoli in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand by the holy river Alaknanda. This temple is extremely highly revered for devout Hindus and is a part of not only the holy Chota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand (along with Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) but also of the all India Char Dham Yatra (including Puri, Dwarka and Rameswaram) as well as the famous Panch Badri Yatra. Sitting at an elevation of 10,827 feet above sea level this hotspot for religious and spiritual activities in the Garhwal Himalayan region has gained a reputation for being extremely sacred and pious. The mystical centre of Badrinath oozes immense spirituality and positivity which can be felt from far away distance as well. The government of India has made special arrangements for the convenience of the pilgrims and devotees which include services like - pony and doli rides along with provisions for helicopter services.

The original construction date of the temple remains unknown however this temple was reestablished during the 7^th century AD by the great saint, sage and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. This majestic temple which sits in front of the twin peaks of Nar and Narayan is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has always been a spiritual treasure. The Hindu legend which follows this temple is the fact that when goddess Ganga was summoned to the earthly realm then it was predicted that the earth is fragile and won’t be able to tolerate the weight of the river so it split into two, one of them being River Alaknanda which runs by the Badrinath Dham shrine making it even more pious and holy.

If you are planning on visiting Badrinath Dham then here are some of the must visit tourist attractions near Badrinath:

Bheem Pul

This iconic tourist attraction of Badrinath is located in the last village of India and Tibet border, Mana village. This historical Pul is located at a mere distance of 3 kms from the main Badrinath Dham shrine and is built over the holy Saraswati River. The legend of this Pul dates back to the time of Mahabharata when one of the Pandava brothers, Bheem built this Pul with the help of a massive mountain rock in order to help his wife Draupadi cross the gushing river. This bridge stands strong to this very day and tourists visit this place to marvel at this structure. Bheem pul can be easily reached by covering a distance of a mere 3 kms from Village Mana via the Badrinath NH 58. Apart from visiting this place Mana is also popular for its village tourism and also for serving as the base camp for trekking to further peaks and mountainous terrain regions for camping activities.

Travel Tips:

• Consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is not permitted in this region so it is advised for you to respect the rules.
• The weather conditions in Badrinath Dham always remains extremely cold and chilly no matter the month or season, so make sure you carry heavy woolen and winter clothing.

Vasudhara Falls

The cascading Vasudhara falls is located at a mere distance of 9 km from Badrinath dham where the initial 3 kms include a road journey from Badrinath Dham to Mana village while the final 6 kms is a soulful trek from Mana village to the falls itself. This mesmerizing falls rushes down from a massive height of 400 feet giving its visitors a beautiful show of the falling water. Not only is this falls good to look at but bathing underneath it is also extremely refreshing and a thrilling experience. Scientists have found that this water fall which is a part of Alaknanda river has incredible medicinal values of achieving relief from various types of mental and physical ailments. The surrounding mountains of Neelkanth, Chaukhamba and Balakun form an impressive backdrop for this majestic sight making it a great spot to go on a trekking expedition.

Travel Tips:

• This falls can be visited when the Badrinath Dham Kapat is opened for Darshan which usually lasts from end of April or early may till end of October or early November.
• The overall exploration time of this place is a mere 30 mins which won’t cause hindrance to your future plans.

Mana Village

This village is popular for being the last village on the Indian Tibet border. Situated in, the holy district of Chamoli. This village is not only popular for this obvious fact, but it has also found its mention in the Hindu epic mythology of Mahabharata. According to legend, this is the place where the Pandava brothers had briefly stopped during their journey to heaven i.e. Swargarohini. Currently this place has almost 200 settlements with a decent population of 600 people along with the last tea shop on the Indian border. During the winter months the entire remains covered in thick snow and the people transfer to lower altitudes for the winter season. All these unique and quirky features about this tranquil hamlet make it a much loved destinations amongst thrill seekers and adventure lovers. The village of Mana is known for its serene environment, refreshing ambience and unmatched greenery.

Travel Tips:

• People use Mana village as a base camp during their trekking expeditions to further destinations.
• You can buy locally produced souvenirs like woolen clothing items made out of sheep wool like shawls and mufflers.

Pandukeshwar

The holy and extremely sacred village of Pandukeshwar is located at a distance of 22 kms from the main Badrinath dham shrine at an elevation of 6,300 feet above sea level. This place lies between the holy centres of Joshimath and Badrinath and can be easily visited during your holy Badrinath Dham Yatra. As per legend, this village was established by the iconic King Pandu (father of the Pandavas) who is said to have been residing here with his wives Kunti and Madri after handing over his throne to his elder brother Dhritarashtra. Pandukeshwar is home to two other ancient and important temples of Yoga Dhyan Badri (where the presiding image is that of Lord Vishnu in a meditating position) which is also an important part of the Sapta Badri pilgrimage Yatra and Lord Vasudev temple, which is said to have been built by the Pandava brothers during their 12 years of exile and performed the funeral processions for their father.

Travel Tips:

• You can visit this temple during the festival of ‘Devwar’, when the idols of Udhava and Kuber leave for Badrinath Dham.
• The village remains open throughout the year and the ideal time to visit this place is from April to June.

Vyas Gufa

This holy cave is situated inside the iconic Mana village which is located at a mere distance of 3 kms from the main Dham shrine of Badrinath. This is 5,321 years old natural rock cave which is said to be the place where Ved Vyas had written Mahabharata and had also classified the holy Vedas into 4 different parts. The naturally occurring rock formation of the Gufa looks like a massive stack of palm leaves and manuscripts which are the oldest writing materials known to humans. This place is also considered to be extremely sacred due to the fact that some people had considered Vyas as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. People visit here seeking some philosophical and spiritual upliftment.

Travel Tips:

• Some of the most popular activities here include trekking and religious tourism.
• The entry for this cave is free and takes just 1 hour of exploration time to see all the unique and mesmerizing features.    

Charan Paduka

The holy site of Charan Paduka is located at a mere distance of 3 kms from Badrinath Dham. This is a beautiful rock structure which houses the sacred foot prints of Lord Vishnu. It is said that this is the exact spot where the lord had first stepped on earth when he had descended from the heavenly realm. As mentioned in Bhagavata Purana Lord Krishna had advised his loyal minister Uddhava to head on to Badrinath along with his Charan Paduka or foot impressions and rid himself of all the wrong doings. This holy site is perched at an elevation of 3,380 feet above sea level and it is believed that a visit here will rid the pilgrim of all of their sins and wrongdoings. Along with pilgrims, avid trekkers and mountaineers cross this site since it falls on the way to the holy Neelkanth peak, which is located at a mere trekking distance of 6 kms. The panoramic view from here is exceptional and incredibly stunning.

Travel Tips:

• Along with the location being situated amidst the breathtaking beauty this place is also extremely difficult to reach and involves quiet some amount of perilous trek.
• This complex is considered to be an ideal location for spending some quality time with your family and friends.