Shri Badrinath Temple (Badrinarayan)
Badrinath, Chamoli district, on the Alaknanda river between the Nar and Narayan ranges · Lord Vishnu as Badrinarayan (Badri Vishal), seated in meditation (padmasana) – a black shaligram-stone image about 1 m tall
The northernmost of the four great Dhams of India and the Vaishnava heart of the Char Dham, beside the Alaknanda at about 3,133 m.
Badrinath is the temple of Vishnu as Badrinarayan, sitting in meditation under the Badri (jujube) tree. It is one of the four 'Bada' Char Dhams of India set up, by tradition, by Adi Shankaracharya (with Puri, Rameswaram and Dwarka), one of the 108 Divya Desams praised by the Alvar saints, and the last stop of the Uttarakhand Char Dham yatra. It is reachable by road to the temple town. The 2026 season opened on 23 April 2026 at about 6:15 AM, and the doors were announced to close on 16 November 2026 at 9:37 PM.
Timings
- Season 2026: Opened 23 April 2026 (approx. 6:15 AM); closing 16 November 2026, 9:37 PM
- Abhishek / Mahabhishek pujas: approx. 4:00/4:30 – 6:30 AM
- General darshan (morning): approx. 6:30/7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Afternoon closure: approx. 1:00 – 3:00 PM (bhog)
- General darshan (afternoon): approx. 3:00 – 9:00 PM
- Evening aartis: From approx. 6:00 PM (summer) to 8:30 PM; Shayan Aarti after the last pilgrim's darshan
- Winter seats: Yog Dhyan Badri, Pandukeshwar (Uddhav and Kubera) and Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath (Shankaracharya gaddi)
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- Darshan with booked puja/aarti – ₹501 upwards
Sevas and costs
- Mahabhishek Puja – ₹5,500 (Early morning, 4:30 – 6:30 AM)
- Abhishek Puja – ₹5,300 (Early morning, 4:30 – 6:30 AM)
- Entire Pujas of the Day – ₹15,000 (4:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
- Ved Path – ₹3,100 (7:30 AM – 12:00 noon and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- Geeta Path – ₹3,100 (7:30 AM – 12:00 noon and 3:00 – 6:00 PM)
- Kapoor Aarti – ₹501 (6:00 – 6:10 PM)
- Chandi Aarti – ₹701 (6:15 – 6:30 PM)
- Swaran Aarti – ₹901 (6:30 – 6:45 PM)
- Ashtottari Puja – ₹701 (6:45 – 7:00 PM)
- Vishnu Sahasranaam Path – ₹1,001 (7:00 – 7:20 PM)
- Vishnu Sahasranaamawali – ₹1,001 (7:20 – 7:45 PM)
- Shayan Aarti with Geet Govind Path – ₹5,001 (Night, no fixed time (after last darshan))
- Srimad Bhagwat Saptah Path – ₹1,00,000 (Seven-day recitation)
- Kheer Bhog – ₹2,100 (Daily; kheer given 7:30 – 8:30 AM)
- Pind Prasad – ₹101 (Around 8:00 AM)
- Yatri Bhog / Nitya Niyam Bhog – ₹101 and above (Yatri Bhog); ₹15,000 (Nitya Niyam Bhog of Badrinath ji); ₹10,000 (subordinate deities) (Midday (distributed approx. 1 PM))
- Akhand Jyoti – ₹2,100 (day); ₹6,000 (year); ₹6,000 (closing day) (One day / one year / closing day)
- Ghrit Kambal (ghee blanket) on closing day – ₹6,000 (Closing day)
- Special-occasion pujas – ₹6,100 (Nar-Narayan Janmotsav); ₹15,000 (Shravani Rudrabhishek); ₹10,000 (Mata Murti Utsav); ₹15,000 (Janmashtami); ₹10,000 (Deepmalika) (Nar-Narayan Janmotsav and Shravani Rudrabhishek (Shravan), Mata Murti Utsav (Vaman…)
- Atka Bhog by post – ₹501 (ordinary post) / ₹1,100 (registered post) (Yearly for 5 years)
- Bandhaan Puja (10-year) – e.g. Abhishek ₹51,000; Maha Bhog ₹45,000; Bal Bhog ₹10,000; Vishnu Sahasranaam Path ₹10,000; Kapoor Aarti ₹3,000 (Chosen date each year for 10 years)
How to book darshan
Register on the BKTC website with an Indian mobile number, choose 'Shri Badarinath Dham', pick the puja and date, pay online and download the receipt. Separate free Char Dham registration is compulsory. In April 2026, during the opening rush, BKTC halted ‘special pujas’ so that everyone took general darshan; the BKTC portal later showed puja bookings open again. Check the portal before planning your visit around a puja, and never pay anyone outside it.
Dress code
No published dress code; modest traditional dress expected. Nights are cold even in June – carry warm layers.
Best time to visit
May–June and mid-September to October. July–August brings landslides on the Rishikesh–Badrinath highway (around Joshimath, Lambagad). The town is snowbound from late November to April.
How to reach
- air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, approx. 310–315 km (BKTC). Helicopter charters fly to Badrinath from Dehradun in season (not via IRCTC).
- rail: Rishikesh approx. 295 km (BKTC); Haridwar approx. 320 km.
- road: NH-7 Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Jyotirmath (Joshimath) → Pandukeshwar → Badrinath; 10–12 hours. Motorable to the town.
Festivals
- Kapat opening – April/May (23 April 2026)
- Mata Murti ka Mela – Vaman Dwadashi, Bhadrapad (Aug/Sep)
- Badri-Kedar Utsav and Janmashtami – June / Aug
- Panch Puja and closing – 12–16 November 2026