Badrinath Yatra
There are a number of pilgrimage destinations in India. People of all religion have their sacred pilgrimage places to which they pay a visit. Devout Hindus make it a point to visit the Chardhams or the four holy places that are supposed to cleanse soul and purify human beings. These four holy destinations include Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.
Badrinath is the holiest amongst all. Badrinath is located on the left bank of river Alaknanda with the majestic Neelkanth mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop.
Like most of the Hindu shrines, Badrinath too has a legend attached to it. As per it, when the Ganges was requested to descend on earth, it could not be possible at one place. The huge force with which the Ganges would have descended could have been catastrophic, hence it was divided into twelve holy channels, Alaknanda being one of them. Later, the place became home to Lord Vishnu.
Still later, around 8th century, Adi Guru Shankaracharya constructed the temple that exists till date. He also laid the foundation of a math. Badrinath is also a part of Panch Badris that apart from it, comprises Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri. The first of these is nearest to the main Badrinath temple and serves as winter abode to idol at Badrinath. The site is also significant for the archaeological department as the remnants recovered from here reveal a lot about the region and the kingdoms that ruled it in past.
Bhavishya Badri is the place that is believed to be the home of Lord Badrinath in future. It is believed that when evil will reach its zenith in this world, the two mountains of Nar and Narayan that cradle Badrinath will come close and block the route to the current temple. The world will be destroyed and a new world will begin where Lord Badrinath will appear at Bhavishya Badri temple.
Where Bhavishya Badri is considered to be the place where Lord Badrinath will be worshipped in future, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' is where the god was worshipped in the past. It is the place where Lord Badrinath was worshipped before Adi Guru Shankaracharya enshrined it to the new temple at Badrinath.
Adi Badri has a complex comprising sixteen temples, seven of these belong to the late Gupta period.
Close to Badrinath temple are other places that are beautiful and significant. Amongst these are Tapt Kund, Hemkund Sahib, Brahma Kapal, Neelkanth, Mana Village, Mata Murti Temple, Alka Puri, Satopanth, Joshimath, Panch Prayag, Deoprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag and Srinagar.
A number of tour packages are offered by travel agents and tour operators that take pilgrims to Badrinath temple. There are tours that will take you to Badrinath yatra alone and there are packages that will take you to Badrinath Kedarnath Tour and Char Dham Yatra on the whole.
Pilgrims can also go on a Badrinath yatra themselves. The place is well connected with Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.
Do Visit Badrinath temple if you have still not paid a visit.
Badrinath is the holiest amongst all. Badrinath is located on the left bank of river Alaknanda with the majestic Neelkanth mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop.
Like most of the Hindu shrines, Badrinath too has a legend attached to it. As per it, when the Ganges was requested to descend on earth, it could not be possible at one place. The huge force with which the Ganges would have descended could have been catastrophic, hence it was divided into twelve holy channels, Alaknanda being one of them. Later, the place became home to Lord Vishnu.
Still later, around 8th century, Adi Guru Shankaracharya constructed the temple that exists till date. He also laid the foundation of a math. Badrinath is also a part of Panch Badris that apart from it, comprises Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri. The first of these is nearest to the main Badrinath temple and serves as winter abode to idol at Badrinath. The site is also significant for the archaeological department as the remnants recovered from here reveal a lot about the region and the kingdoms that ruled it in past.
Bhavishya Badri is the place that is believed to be the home of Lord Badrinath in future. It is believed that when evil will reach its zenith in this world, the two mountains of Nar and Narayan that cradle Badrinath will come close and block the route to the current temple. The world will be destroyed and a new world will begin where Lord Badrinath will appear at Bhavishya Badri temple.
Where Bhavishya Badri is considered to be the place where Lord Badrinath will be worshipped in future, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' is where the god was worshipped in the past. It is the place where Lord Badrinath was worshipped before Adi Guru Shankaracharya enshrined it to the new temple at Badrinath.
Adi Badri has a complex comprising sixteen temples, seven of these belong to the late Gupta period.
Close to Badrinath temple are other places that are beautiful and significant. Amongst these are Tapt Kund, Hemkund Sahib, Brahma Kapal, Neelkanth, Mana Village, Mata Murti Temple, Alka Puri, Satopanth, Joshimath, Panch Prayag, Deoprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag and Srinagar.
A number of tour packages are offered by travel agents and tour operators that take pilgrims to Badrinath temple. There are tours that will take you to Badrinath yatra alone and there are packages that will take you to Badrinath Kedarnath Tour and Char Dham Yatra on the whole.
Pilgrims can also go on a Badrinath yatra themselves. The place is well connected with Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region.
Do Visit Badrinath temple if you have still not paid a visit.
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