Badrinath is the Char Dham’s most accessible great shrine – Vishnu as Badri Vishal, seated in padmasana at about 3,300 m between the Nar and Narayana peaks, with the Alaknanda flowing past and the Neelkanth pyramid rising behind. It is motorable to the door, which makes it the easiest dham for elders and the natural second half of the Do Dham circuit. In 2026 it opened on 23 April and closes around 13 November.
Quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deity | Vishnu (Badri Vishal) – one of the 108 Divya Desams |
| Altitude | ~3,300 m |
| Season 2026 | 23 April – ~13 November |
| Access | Motorable to the temple |
| Winter seat | Jyotirmath, Joshimath – the deity moves there for winter |
| Registration | Mandatory, free (how to register) |
What to do beyond darshan
- Tapt Kund: the hot spring at the temple’s foot – the traditional (and genuinely welcome) bath before darshan.
- Mana village (3 km): the “last village of India”, with Vyas Gufa (where the Mahabharata is said to have been composed), Bhim Pul and the Saraswati river’s vanishing point.
- Neelkanth and the valley walks: short acclimatisation strolls beat a rushed departure – the altitude is real even without a trek.
Best time to visit
The temple season runs late April to mid-November; the sweet spots are May-June and September-early October. Winter devotion continues at Joshimath, where the deity winters at Jyotirmath. Dates and abodes: opening and closing dates. Month detail: May and September guides.
