Panch Badri

According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, "There in Badrikashram the Personality of Godhead (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities."

The Skanda Purana states that “There are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell; but there is no shrine like Badrinath.”

The area around Badrinath was also celebrated in Padma Purana as abounding in spiritual treasures.

Shri Badri Vishal
This temple located at a height of 3,133 mts. is the largest and most popular of the Vishnu pilgrimages among the five Badris. The original temple here is believed to be built by King Pururava and the icon of the lord carved by Vishwakarma. The idol was recovered by Adi Shankaracharya from the waters of the nearby Naradkund and consecrated once more in the temple, restored in the 19th century by the royal houses of Scindia and Holkar.

So holy is this shrine that it forms one of the four prominent places of Hindu worship. The epic Mahabharata, it is believed, was cornposed in the Vyas and Ganesh caves close by. The Vishnu Ganga which later becomes the Alaknanda flows below the temple while Neelkanth keeps vigil over all devotees. For visitors, the area is fascinating: across from the river is Mana, the last habitation before the border with Tibbet, and once a flourishing centre of Indo-Tibetan trade.
Badrinath was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. Shankara discovered the image of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the king of Garhwal moved the murti to the present temple.

The temple has undergone several major renovations, due to age and damage by avalanche. In the 17th century, the temple was expanded by the kings of Garhwal. After significant damage in the great 1803 Himalayan earthquake, it was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur.

Several murtis are worshipped in the temple. The most important is a one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badrinarayan, made of black Saligram stone. The statue is considered by many Hindus to be one of eight swayam vyakta keshtras, or self-manifested statues of Vishnu. The murti depicts Vishnu sitting in meditative posture, rather than His far more typical reclining pose.

The nearest railhead, Riahikesh, is 299 kms by road.

Bhavishya Badri
The future Badri is located at 2,744 mts. amidst the thick forests surrounding Tapovan. According to a divination, it is here that all devotees will throng once Badrinath is no more. While there can be no conceivable reason why this should happen, scientists agree that Joshimath, the entry point into the area before the final, most strenuous climb, is sited on an ancient landslide and has been sinking, and with a barrage coming up close by, may actually see the fulfillment
of the divine prophecy.

But whatever happens, Bhavishya Badri is popular even now. Enshrined here is the lion-headed image of Narsingh. Visitors pass the serene Tapovan a place known for its hot water springs en route to the banks of the Dhauliganga, and on to the shrine.

Saldhar is 274 km from Rishikesh and 19 km from Joshimath. From Saldhar, pilgrims have to trek 6 km up to the shrine.

Yogdhyan Badri
Every so often in the Garhwal Himalayas, tales from the Mahabharata spring magically to life. Yogdhyan Badri, 1,920 mts, is located at Pandukeshwar, named after the Pandvas King. It is said that the Pandavas, victorious after their battle against the Kauravas, but emotionally scarred, came to the Himalayas. And it was here that they handed over their capital, Hastinapur, to Raja Parikshit and took up penance before seeking out the highway to heaven. The importance of the badri is immense and the sanctum has an image of the lord in a meditative
posture.

It is located just 23 kms short of Badrinath on a motorable road from Rishikesh. Regular buses and taxis ply on the route. The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 277 kms.

Aadi Badri
Another pilgrimage centre of importance is this group of 16 temples enroute to Ranikhet and close to the confluence at Karan Prayag. The main temple is dedicated to Narayan and has a raised platform in the pyramidal form. Within the temple, a black stone idol is installed. It is believed that these temples, dating to the Gupta age, were sanctioned by Adi Shankaracharya who wanted to spread the tenets of Hinduism to every remote corner of the country.

Adi Badri is approachable from Kama Prayag, 19 kms, which in turn is connected by a motorable road with Ranikhet, Nainital and Ramnagar. The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 192 kms.

Vriddha Badri
Before Badrinath 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. It is said that when mankind entered the age of Kali, Vishnu chose to remove himself from the temple.

This, the first badri, is located at a height of 1,380 mts. at Animath. While Badrinath closes during winter, the idol and priests hibernating at Joshimath, Vridha Badri remains open throughout the year.

Animath, 8 kms short of Joshimath, is accessible by motorable roads from Rishkesh on the Badrinath road.The nearest railhead, Rishikesh, is 247 kms.