6 Best Places to Visit in Badrinath

With a majestic scenic backdrop of Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, surrounded by lush green hills and an undeniable spiritual presence, Badrinath Dham is one of a kind place where you will be mesmerized every step of the way. Badri Vishal - the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu makes for a major part of the all India Char Dham Yatra and the Chota Char Dham Yatra as well.

People from all walks of life and from different pockets of the world make it a point to at least visit here once in their lifetime. The temple has been worshipped through centuries and ages as a result of which the aura here is pristine and deeply rejuvenating for the mind, body, and soul.

Visiting Badrinath should not be only about going up to the temple and offering your Darshan, the real beauty lies in exploring the nearby wonders that further elevates your sense of spirituality and wholesomeness. Here are a couple of places in and around Badrinath that you could visit:

Mana Village

Located on the Indo-Tibetan border and at a distance of around 3 kms from Badri Vishal this charming little village amidst the lap of nature has garnered its respect for being the last village of India. It has also become one of the prime destinations for bikers. You can spend a couple of days here in one of the many homestays and experience the real flavor of spirituality.

Legends state that the Pandava brothers with Draupadi are said to have made a stop here for a couple of days before heading on to their journey to heaven.

What to Do: Yoga, Meditation, Nature Walks, and Cultural Tour.

Vasudhara Falls

As the name suggests Vasudhara is a pristine waterfall located uphill from the temple of Badrinath. It holds a lot of significance especially amongst the believers who say that one could not fully feel the rejuvenating effects if they don’t have a pure heart with good intentions.

You can plan a day visit here and you can come back feeling extremely grateful and thankful for the higher power above. From here you will also be able to take a look at the Badrinath valley below which will surely be awe-inspiring.

What to Do: Hiking, Picnic, Landscape/Nature Photography.

Auli

After you are done with your puja rituals and Darshan of Lord Badri you can spare a couple of days to explore the beautiful and much talked about hill station of Auli which is situated at a distance of around 57 kms by road. Although Auli is a popular winter vacation destination especially for its skiing and snow-boarding attractions it also makes for a fun-filled experience even during the summer season.
Surrounded by gently rolling green meadows or Bugyals this place is a great addition to the spiritual experience you will have in Badrinath.

What to Do: Trekking, Hiking, Camping, Meditation, and Photography.

Vyas Gufa

Vyas is considered to be one of the most prominent and prolific sages and thinkers of Hinduism till date. He is credited for being the author of the great epic Mahabharat, Vedas, and Puranas. The famous story of how Mahabharat was written tells us that he had Ganesha working as the transcriber who was to write the entire epic in one sitting and without stopping in between as Vyas spoke continuously.
It was in this very cave or Gufa that this iconic legendary epic was written hence it holds immense religious and spiritual value. Since it is located in close proximity to Badri Vishal you must visit this place purely for the value it holds.

What to Do: Know more about the Hindu culture, explore the surrounding wilderness.

The Legendary Saraswati River

Just like all rivers in India Saraswati River also holds a lot of significance to the Hindus of India. This river is a tributary of river Alaknanda and it is in Keshav Prayag (close to Mana Village) that these 2 rivers meet before finally merging with Bhagirathi River at Devprayag and heading on to its journey as Ganga River.

This river is famous for being a legendary river that goes underground and also makes for the 3rd mythical river that converges with Ganga and Yamuna in Triveni Sangam at Allahabad. You can view this river flowing in its full capacity through the cascading waterfalls and rivers, especially from the iconic Bheem Pul.

What to Do: Landscape/scenery photography, spiritual visit, Stroll around, spend a peaceful time.

Pandukeshwar Village

This pristine and peaceful place offering unmatched solitude and Zen is believed to be the place where the father of the Pandavas - King Pandu, is said to have stayed and spent a lot of his time there. Some even say that the 5 Pandavas brothers spent some time of their childhood here hence this place is named after their father to honor his presence here.

This charming little village is nestled amidst the scenic natural beauty and makes for a very spiritually induced stay. Placed on an elevation of around 6,000 feet above sea level it is a great place to unwind and just relax.

What to Do: Yoga, Meditation, Nature Trails, and Hiking Activities.