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{{About|Badrinath town|the temple|Badrinath temple|the cricketer|Subramaniam Badrinath | the 2011 Telugu film | Badrinath (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Badrinath
| settlement_type                 = Town
| image_skyline                   = Badrinath Temple- Uttarakhand.jpg
| image_caption                   = 
| nickname                        = 
| image_map                       = 
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = 
| pushpin_map                     = India Uttarakhand#India
| pushpin_label_position          = 
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Uttarakhand, India
| coordinates                     = {{coord|30.744|N|79.493|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = India
| subdivision_type1               = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Uttarakhand]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Chamoli district|Chamoli]]
| established_title               = <!-- Established --> 
| established_date                = 
| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = 
| government_type                 = 
| governing_body                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_rank                       = 
| area_total_km2                  = 3
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 3300
| population_total                = 2,438
| population_as_of                = 2011
| population_rank                 = 
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              = 
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="Census2011Gov"/>
| demographics_type1              = Languages
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_info1             = [[Hindi]]<ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=16 January 2019|page=47|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2            = Additional&nbsp;official
| demographics1_info2             = [[Sanskrit]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Trivedi |first=Anupam |title=Sanskrit is second official language in Uttarakhand |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/sanskrit-is-second-official-language-in-uttarakhand/story-wxk51l8Re4vNxofrr7FAJK.html |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sanskrit second official language of Uttarakhand|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Sanskrit-second-official-language-of-Uttarakhand/article15965492.ece |work=The Hindu |date=21 January 2010 |access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>
| demographics1_title3            = Regional
| demographics1_info3             = [[Rongpo language|Marchha]], [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]]
| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1                     = +5:30
| postal_code_type                = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code                     = 246422<ref name="pincode">{{cite web|url=https://pin-code.net/in-loc/badrinath-pin-code/159196/|title=Badrinath Pin code|publisher=pin-code.net|accessdate=18 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200543/https://pin-code.net/in-loc/badrinath-pin-code/159196/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| registration_plate              = UK 11
| website                         = {{URL|https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}
 {{location map+|India|float=right|width=270|caption='''Char Dham'''|places=
{{location map~|India|label=Badrinath|position=left|lat=30.73|long=79.48}}
{{location map~|India|label=[[Dwarka]]|position=right|lat=22.23|long=68.97}}
{{location map~|India|label=[[Jagannath Puri]]|position=left|lat=19.81|long=85.83}}
{{location map~|India|label=[[Rameswaram]]|position=left|lat=9.28|long=79.3}}
}}

'''Badrinath''' is a town and [[nagar panchayat]] in [[Chamoli district]] in the state of [[Uttarakhand]], India. It is a [[Hindu]] holy place, and is one of the four sites in India's [[Char Dham]] [[Hindu pilgrimage|pilgrimage]]. It is also part of India's [[Chota Char Dham]] pilgrimage circuit and gets its name from the [[Badrinath Temple]].
{{anchor|Etymology|Toponym}}

== Etymology ==
Badrinath derives from the Sanskrit compound Badarīnātha, consisting of the terms ''badarī'' ([[jujube tree]]) and ''nātha'' (lord), an epithet of [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UvxLEAAAQBAJ&dq=badrinath+lord+jujube&pg=PT13 |title=Skanda Purana: Vaishnava Khanda: Badrinath Kshetra Mahatmya: English Translation only without Slokas |date=24 October 2021 |publisher=Kausiki Books |pages=13}}</ref> It is also known as Badarikashrama.

==History==
In earlier days, pilgrims used to walk hundreds of miles to visit the Badrinath temple.<ref name=nilkantha>{{cite web|last=Wylie|first=C.G.|title=Himalayan journal : A PRE-SWISS ATTEMPT ON NILKANTA(1947)|url=http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/a-pre-swiss-attempt-on-nilkanta/|publisher=The Himalayan Club|access-date=6 June 2013|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125112317/https://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/a-pre-swiss-attempt-on-nilkanta/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The temple has been repeatedly destroyed by [[earthquakes]] and [[avalanches]]. As late as the [[First World War]], the town consisted only of the 20-odd huts used by the temple's staff, but the site drew thousands each year and up to 50,000 on its [[wikt:duodecennial|duodecennial]] festivals (every twelve years).{{sfnp|''EB''|1911}} In recent years its popularity has increased still more, with an estimated 600,000 pilgrims visiting during the 2006 season,<ref>''The Hindu'' newspaper, 17 November 2006</ref> compared to 90,676 in 1961.<ref name=nautiyal/> The temple in Badrinath is also a sacred pilgrimage site for [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavites]]. Badrinath is also gateway to several mountaineering expeditions headed to mountains like [[Nilkantha (mountain)|Nilkantha]].<ref name=nilkantha/>

==Temple==
{{Main|Badrinath Temple}}

The [[Badrinath temple]] is the main attraction in the town. According to the legend, Adi Shankaracharya discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan made of [[Saligram|Shaligram]] stone in the [[Alaknanda River]]. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs.<ref name=nautiyal/><ref name=uttarakhand>Randhir Prakashan, ''The Holy Places of Uttarakhand Yatra''.</ref> In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the [[murti]] to the present temple.<ref name=nautiyal/> The temple is approximately 50&nbsp;ft (15 m) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof.<ref name=nautiyal/> The facade is built of stone, with arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to a tall arched gateway, which is the main entrance. The architecture resembles a Buddhist vihara (temple), with the brightly painted facade also more typical of Buddhist temples.<ref name=dhaams>Sen Gupta, Subhadra, ''Badrinath and Kedarnath - The Dhaams in the Himalayas'', 2002. {{ISBN|81-7167-617-0}}</ref> Just inside is the [[mandapa]], a large pillared hall that leads to the [[garbha grha]], or main shrine area. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carving.<ref name=dhaams/><ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Badrinath Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/new.php?id=1783|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref>

==Legend==
According to the [[Bhagavata Purana]], "There in Badrikashram, the supreme being ([[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" (Bhagavata Purana 3.4.22).

The Badrinath area is referred to as Badari or Badarikaashram (बदरिकाश्रम) in Hindu scriptures. It is a place sacred to Vishnu, particularly in Vishnu's dual form of Nara-Narayana. Thus, in the [[Mahabharata]], [[Krishna]], addressing [[Arjuna]], says, "Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with [[Narayana]] for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years."<ref>Dowson's Classical Dictionary of [[Hindu mythology]]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/75 75]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

As per one legend, when the goddess [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] was requested to descend on earth to help the suffering humanity at the request of [[Bhagiratha]], the earth was unable to withstand the force of her descent. Therefore, the mighty Ganga ([[Ganges]]) was split into two holy channels, with [[Alaknanda]] as one of them.

Another lore states that the area was full of Badari, a wild berry. Vishnu meditated here and [[Lakshmi]] took the form of the Badari tree to provide shade for him from scorching sun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee |url=https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/AboutUs/shri-badrinath.aspx |website=badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>

The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]], when the [[Pandava]]s were said to have died one by one, when ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini (literal meaning - the 'Ascent to Heaven'). The Pandavas passed through Badrinath and the town of Mana, 4&nbsp;km north of Badrinath, on their way to [[Svarga]] (heaven). There is also a cave in Mana where [[Vyasa]], according to the legend, wrote the Mahabharata.<ref name=nautiyal>Nautiyal, Govind Prasad, Call of Badrinath, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temples Committee, 1962.</ref>

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

This place is considered holy in [[Jainism]] as well. In Jainism, [[Himalaya]] is also called Ashtapad because of its eight different mountain range [[Gaurishankar]], [[Kailash]], Badrinath, Nanda, Drongiri, Nara-Narayana and [[Trishuli]]. [[Rishabhanatha]] attained Nirvana on [[Mount Kailash]] situated in the Himalayan range and according to Jain faith (Nirvankand), from Badrinath numerous Jain Muni got Moksha by doing Tapsya. According to Shrimadbhagwat, at this place Rishabhdev's father Nabhirai and mother [[Marudevi]] had done hard Tapa after Rishabhdev's [[Rajyabhishek]] and taken Samadhi. Even today footprint of Nabhirai at [[Neelkanth]] mountain attracts everybody towards him.<ref name=nautiyal/>

==Geography==

Badrinath has an average elevation of 3,100&nbsp;metres (10,170&nbsp;feet). It is in the Garhwal [[Himalayas]], on the banks of the [[Alaknanda River]]. The town lies between the Nar and [[Narayana]] mountain ranges 9&nbsp;km east of [[Nilkantha (mountain)|Nilkantha]] peak (6,596m). Badrinath is located 62&nbsp;km northwest of [[Nanda Devi]] peak and 301&nbsp;km north of [[Rishikesh]]. From [[Gaurikund]] (near [[Kedarnath]]) to Badrinath by road is 233&nbsp;km.

According to the [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen climate system]], Badrinath's climate is [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (''Dfb'') bordering a [[subtropical highland climate]] (''Cfb'').

{{Weather box
| width        = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line  = yes
| location     =  Badrinath, Uttarakhand
| Jan high C  = 4.3
| Feb high C  = 6.0
| Mar high C  = 10.0
| Apr high C  = 15.0
| May high C  = 18.6
| Jun high C  = 20.4
| Jul high C  = 19.1
| Aug high C  = 18.6
| Sep high C  = 17.1
| Oct high C  = 13.7
| Nov high C  = 9.7
| Dec high C  = 6.5
| year high C =
| Jan mean C  = -0.3
| Feb mean C  = 1.2
| Mar mean C  = 5.0
| Apr mean C  = 9.3
| May mean C  = 12.6
| Jun mean C  = 15.0
| Jul mean C  = 14.9
| Aug mean C  = 14.7
| Sep mean C  = 12.6
| Oct mean C  = 8.3
| Nov mean C  = 4.5
| Dec mean C  = 1.5
| year mean C =
| Jan low C  = -4.9
| Feb low C  = -4.6
| Mar low C  = 0.0
| Apr low C  = 3.6
| May low C  = 6.7
| Jun low C  = 9.6
| Jul low C  = 10.8

| Aug low C  = 10.8
| Sep low C  = 8.1
| Oct low C  = 3.0
| Nov low C  = -0.6
| Dec low C  = -3.4
| year low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm  = 145.0
| Feb precipitation mm  = 139.0
| Mar precipitation mm  = 163.0
| Apr precipitation mm  = 77.0
| May precipitation mm  = 54.0
| Jun precipitation mm  = 102.0
| Jul precipitation mm  = 325.0
| Aug precipitation mm  = 312.0
| Sep precipitation mm  = 188.0
| Oct precipitation mm  = 63.0
| Nov precipitation mm  = 45.0
| Dec precipitation mm  = 67.0
| year precipitation mm =
| source = <ref name="BADRINATH CLIMATE SUMMARY">{{cite web |url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/uttarakhand/badrinath-33824/ |title=BADRINATH CLIMATE |publisher=CLIMATE-DATA.ORG |access-date=5 May 2020 }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
As of [[2011 Indian Census]], Badrinath had a total population of 2,438, of which 2,054 were males and 384 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 68. The total number of literates in Badrinath was 2,265, which constituted 92.9% of the population with male literacy of 95.4% and female literacy of 79.7%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Badrinath was 95.6%, of which male literacy rate was 97.1% and female literacy rate was 86.9%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 113 and 22 respectively. Badrinath had 850 households in 2011.<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Badrinath |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=46372 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Badrinath Temple - OCT 2014.jpg|Badrinath is one of the most popular and religious holy towns of the Hindus located at Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in India
File:Badrinath Temple at night.JPG|Badrinath temple at night
File:Neelkanth Parvath.jpg|Neelkanth Parbat from Badrinath
File:Badrinath2005.jpg|Badrinath Town
File:Badrinath landscape.JPG|[[Himalayas]] in Badrinath, [[Uttarakhand]]
File:Neelkanth.jpg|View from Badrinath
File:Sheeshtaal.jpg|Sheeshtaal (Sheshnaag lake)
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Badri Narayanan temple]]
* [[Vasudhara Falls]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite EB9 |mode=cs2 |wstitle=Badrinath |volume=3  |ref={{harvid|EB|1878}} |page=229 }}
* {{cite EB1911 |mode=cs2 |wstitle=Badrinath |volume=3 |ref={{harvid|EB|1911}} |page=190 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Badrinath}}
* [https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/ Official website of Shri Badarinath - Shri Kedarnath]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}

{{Hindu holy cities}}
{{Chamoli district}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Tourism in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Chamoli district]]