With
its great scenic beauty and attractive
recreational spots in the vicinity, Badrinath
attracts an ever increasing number of
secular visitors each year.
Panch Dharas
(a) Prahalad Dhara (b) Kurma Dhara (c)
Urbasi Dhara (d) Bhrigu Dhara (e) Indra
Dhara.
Panch Shilas
(a) Narad Shila (b) Varaha Shila (c) Garurh
Shila (d) Markandeya Shila (e) Narsingh
Shila.
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.
Brahma Kapal
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda.
Hindus perform propitiating rites for
their deceased ancestors.
Sheshnetra
1 .5 km away is a boulder having an impression
of the legendary snake, better known as
the Sheshnag's eye.
Charanpaduka
3 km away is a beautiful meadow where
the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on
a boulder.
Neelkanth
A pyramidal shaped snowy peak (6,59 7mt)
towering above Badrinath, presents a dramatic
sight. It is popularly known as the 'Garhwal
Queen'.
Other Four Badris
Yogadhyan Badri
The temple of Yogadhyan Badri, one of
the five Badris, is located at Pandukeshwar
(1920 mt.) just 24 km short of Badrinath
on Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. The image
here in a meditative posture, is worshipped
at Badrinath. According to the myth, the
Pandavas handed over Hastinapur to king
Parikshit and retired here.
Bhavishya Badri
The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an
elevation of 2,744 mt. and is surrounded
by dense forests. Located at Subain near
Tapovan about 17 km east of Joshimath
on Joshimath - Lata - Malari route. Pilgrims
have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga
river. Tapovan has sulphurous hot springs
and the view of the Tapovan valley towards
the north is breathtakingly beautiful.
Traditionally it is believed that a day
will come when the present route to Badrinath
will be inaccessible and Lord Badrinath
will be worshipped here. Thus the name
'Bhavishya Badri' which literally means
the Badri of the future.
Bridha Badri
About 7 km short of Joshimath, on the
main Rishikesh- Badrinath motor road,
is Animath. It is believed that Badrinath
or Lord Vishnu was worshipped here before
the enshrinement of Badrinath by Adi Guru
Shankaracharya. The temple of Bridha Badri
is open throughout the year.
Adibadri
Adibadri is also one of five Badris and
is situated quite far from the cluster
of the other four which form the Vishnu-Kshetra.
Approachable from Karnaprayag by a motorable
road on way to Ranikhet, are remains of
16 small temples. Seven among them are
more ancient, with flat roofs belonging
to the late Gupta period. Local tradition
assigns the building of the temples to
Shankaracharya. The main temple of Narain
is distinguished by a raised platform
in the pyramidal form where the idol is
enshrined. Sculpted out of black stone,
the idol of Lord Vishnu is a metre high