BADRINATH YATRA
The magnificent Badrinath temple situated between the Nar and Narayan mountains ,with the banks of Alaknanda river at the height of nearly ten thousand meters , a black stone statue of is worshiped as meditating lord. In Sanskrit it is called as Badri dham, badri for the wife of Vishnu Bhagwan who according to the legend gave shadow to the meditating lord as in the form of berry tree (badri).
There are many places to visit near Badrinath like Swargarohini, Sheshnetra, Satopanth, Nilkantha Peak, Mata Murti Temple, Charan Paduka, Brahma Kapal, Mana Village,Vyas Cave, Tapt Kund and Vasudhara Falls.
Tapt Kund: Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.
Narad Kund: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.
Mata Murty Temple: Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include SeshNetra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.
Mana Village: Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.
Bhim Pul: On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge lies over the roaring Saraswati River. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.
Vyas Gufa (cave): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.
When Buddhism became the dominant religion in India, the idol of Badrinath was thrown into the Narad kund. Adi Sankracharya retrieved it and re-installed the deity for worship. He appointed a namboodri Brahmin from Kerala as Rawal at Badrinath, which traditionally still continues. A group of idols in temple, which include Ganesh, lakshmi, Nar, Narayan, kuber, udhav, Garud and Narad, form the 'badrish panchayat'. Ghanta karn is also worshiped here. Just past the Singha dwar of the temple is an image of Garud, the lord's vehicle. Traditionally the yatra to kedarnath is undertaken before coming to Badrinath. For the devotee who has been unable to do this, the temple of Adi kedareshwar nearby is to be visited first. Devotees offer pind daan for their ancestors at the holy Braham kapal tirth, just outside the gate of the temple, after which, it is believed, no other sharadh is necessary. Facing the temple, by the banks of the Alaknanda, is a hot water spring known as Taptkund, a bath in it is holy.
Nearby in Badrinath there is Joshimath is the seat of Adi Sankracharya. It has a temple of Narshingha as well. Nearby is the Sankracharya cave, where Sankracharya is believed to have attained his jyotirdarshan or enlightenment. Hence it was called jyotirpith, and later came to be known as Joshimath, Pandukeshwar the winter seat of Badrinath.
Delhi – Haridwar/Rishikesh (230 Kms / 7 - 8 hrs)
Haridwar/Rishikesh - Joshimath
Joshimath – Badrinath
Badrinath – Srinagar/Devprayag
Srinagar/Devprayag - Delhi