Badrinath Yatra 2026: Badrinath Temple, Route and Places to Visit

The Badrinath Yatra is the journey to Badrinath, the temple of Lord Vishnu and the last dham of the Char Dham circuit. The Badrinath temple stands at about 3,133 m on the banks of the Alaknanda, between the Nar and Narayan ranges. Unlike Kedarnath and Yamunotri, the road goes right up to the town, which makes the Badrinath Yatra the easiest of the four for families and senior citizens.

Badrinath Yatra at a glance

Route for the Badrinath Yatra

The Badrinath Yatra follows the Ganga and then the Alaknanda upstream: Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Joshimath → Badrinath. It is a long day of 10–11 hours, so most people stop overnight at Rudraprayag, Pipalkoti or Joshimath. If you are coming from Kedarnath, the road from Guptkashi to Badrinath is about 200 km. See the full Char Dham route map.

About the Badrinath temple

The shrine is famous for its bright painted front, called the Singhdwar. Inside, Lord Badri Narayan is worshipped in a meditating form. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu and one of the four dhams established by Adi Shankaracharya. Morning and evening aartis are the most popular times for darshan. For timings and puja bookings, check the official Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee website.

Darshan, aarti and puja on the Badrinath Yatra

Darshan starts early in the morning with the Maha Abhishek and continues through the day with a break in the afternoon. The evening aarti and the Geet Govind recital at closing time are special moments of every visit. Special pujas can be booked through the temple committee. Queues are longest between 7 and 11 AM in May and June, so many pilgrims attend the early aarti and then explore Mana in the late morning. Prasad of dry fruits and tulsi is offered at stalls near the gate. Remember that photography is not allowed inside the sanctum, and leather items must be kept outside.

Places to visit on the Badrinath Yatra

• Tapt Kund: natural hot spring just below the shrine; pilgrims on the Badrinath Yatra bathe here before darshan.
• Mana village: about 3 km away, near the Tibet border, with Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa and Bhim Pul.
• Charan Paduka: a rock with footprints, about 3 km walk from town.
• Neelkanth peak: the snow peak you see behind the town on a clear morning.
• Joshimath: winter seat of Lord Badri and the gateway town to Badrinath.

Best time for the Badrinath Yatra

May–June and mid-September–October are the best months for the Badrinath Yatra. Because there is no trek, the Badrinath Yatra is also possible in late October, just before the Badrinath temple closes for winter around Diwali. Avoid July and August, when landslides on the highway are common. Read our guide to the best time for Char Dham Yatra.

Registration and practical tips for the Badrinath Yatra

• Registration is compulsory; passes are checked on the way at Pandukeshwar. See Char Dham Yatra registration.
• Carry warm clothes – nights in Badrinath are cold even in June.
• Start early from Joshimath to reach before the midday crowd.
• Drink water and walk slowly; the altitude is above 3,000 m.

Plan your Badrinath Yatra

Do the Badrinath Yatra alone in 3–4 days from Haridwar, pair it with Kedarnath on a Do Dham Yatra, or cover all four temples on our Char Dham Yatra package. Book a car with an experienced hill driver through our Char Dham taxi service. Also see the Kedarnath Yatra guide and the complete Char Dham Yatra guide.