What is the story about?
Badrinath is one of the four pilgrimage sits of the revered Char Dham Yatra. And today, the portals of this temple have opened for public darshan. For
the unversed, Char Dham Yatra is considered as one of the most pure pilgrimage journey for Hindus. In fact, lakhs of people take it every year for their spiritual enlightenment. It includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Each of these temple have their own significance. Yamunotri is the origin of River Yamuna and is believed to cleanse sins. Gangotri, on the other hand, is the source of River Ganga. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Then comes Badrinath, which is devoted to Lord Vishnu and represents ultimate salvation. Here is everything you need to know about the ancient shrine.
More Details About Badrinath Dham
Located at an elevation of around 3,100 metres in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, the Badrinath Temple is also knows as the Badrinarayan Temple. It has Lord Vishnu as its presiding deity.As per the official website of the Temple Committee, this shrine is among the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes of Lord Vishnu. "The concept of the 108 Divya Desams finds its roots in the Alvars, a group of 12 revered saints who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. These mystic poets and devotees of Lord Vishnu composed thousands of devotional hymns, known as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which extol the glory and divinity of the Lord’s abodes," states the website of ISKCON Seshadripuram.
Also Read: What Is Char Dham Yatra? Everything You Need To Know About The Sacred Himalayan Pilgrimage
The garbha griha of Badrinath Dham is known for housing idols of Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber, Narad Rishi, Udhava and Nar-Narayan. The idol of Lord Badari has been sculpted in black stone. As per the Skanda Purana, the idol of Lord Badrinath was recovered by Adi Guru Shankaracharya from Narad Kund and was re-enshrined in the 8th century AD in this temple. It was initially enshrined inside a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs and was later moved to its present location by the King of Garhwal in the 16th century.
Online Registration Process For Char Dham Yatra
Now, pilgrims can complete the Char Dham Yatra registration through the official mobile app or the tourism portal of Uttarakhand government. Read below to follow this step-by-step guide.- Create an account on the app using your mobile number.
- Enter your personal details such as name, ID proof and travel dates.
- Select the temple destinations you plan to visit.
- Submit the form and download the registration confirmation.
Offline Registration Process For Char Dham Yatra
The government started allowing the offline registration a little before the pilgrimage started. As per the official statement which was issued, it began on April 17, 2026. The counters have been set up at:- Rishikesh
- Haridwar
- Dehradun
History Of Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham yatra was formalised by the 8th-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. His main vision was to unify Hindu beliefs and practices across India. By establishing the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, Shankaracharya gave Indians a spiritual framework that helped unite people from diverse regions.Historically speaking, the pilgrimage was extremely challenging. Devotees had to walk for days or even weeks through rugged mountain terrain. However, over the years, improved road connectivity and helicopter services have made the journey more accessible.
The temple towns themselves have a deep historical significance. For example, it is believed that the Kedarnath Temple is thousand years old and associated with multiple legends from the epic Mahabharata. Every shrine represents a unique spiritual element.
- Yamunotri Temple is the source of Yamuna River and honours Goddess Yamuna, who is believed to protect devotees from untimely death.
- Gangotri Temple is associated with the origin of the River Ganga, which is considered to be the holiest river in Hinduism.
- Kedarnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, making it among the most sacred Shaivite shrines.
- Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and forms part of the larger Char Dham pilgrimage circuit across India.
Disclaimer: This article is based on popular beliefs. Times Now is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information and facts provided here.
