Badri was designated one of the four char dhams of Hindu worship by Adi Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath carved by the divine Vishwakarma was enshrined and worshipped here. the first Badri is located at a height of 1,380 mt. at Animath.
Shrine’s History
The idol of Badrinath carved by the divine Vishwakarma was enshrined and worshipped here. It is said that when mankind entered the age of Kali, Vishnu chose to remove himself from the temple.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
The Vridha Badri legend says that Vishnu appeared in the form of a Vridha or old man before sage Narada who performed penance here. Thus, the idol installed at this temple is in the form of an old man. According to legend, the image of Badrinath was carved by the divine craftsman Vishwakarma and worshipped here. At the advent of Kali yuga, Vishnu chose to remove himself from this place, later Adi Shankara found the partly damaged image in Narad-kund pond and established it at the central Badrinath shrine. According to legend, Badrinath was worshipped here by Adi Shankara, before his enshrinement at the Badrinath temple. The temple is open throughout the year. Brahmins from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.
By Road
Animath, 8 km. short of Joshimath, is accessible by motorable roads from Rishikesh on the Badrinath road.
By Rail
The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 247 km.
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun 264 km.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
From opening to closing, generally from April to November.
Extra Information About this Shrine
Best time to visit The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is the undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points. Weather can vary.