FESTIVALS

Mata Murti Mela (Sept.)

During this fair, Mother of Sri Badrinath ji is worshipped by the priests of Badrinath Temple.

Janamashtami (July/Aug.)

Special prayers and festivities are held at the temple on the occasion of the birth of Lord Krishna.

SIGHTSEEING

BADRINATH TEMPLE

Perched at an altitude of 3,133 mt above sea-level, in the middle of a beautiful valley, it is located on the right bank of holy river Alaknanda. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji is 15 mt in height, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire.

Legend dates the temple prior to the Vedic age, though the present temple is believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8^th century A.D., Hindu reformist.

The temple has been renovated several times due to earlier damages by avalanches and looks modern now with a colourful "Singh Dwara" or the main entrance gate. The temple has three parts – Garbha Griha (the pujas) and Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).

It is believed that the image of Badrinath had been thrown into the Alaknanda river during the time of the Buddhist era and later retrieved and reinstalled by Shankaracharya during the following Hindu revival.

There are 15 idols in the temple complex. Finely sculpted in black stonge, the Badrinath (Vishnu) image is a metre high. Other images include those of Laxmi (Vishnu’s consort), Garurh (Vishnu’s mount), Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh etc.

With its great scenic beauty and attractive recreational spots in the vicinity, Badrinath attracts an ever increasing number of secular visitors each year.