Shri Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
The Vishnu temple of the Char Dham, on the Alaknanda in Chamoli district, run by the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). It is open for only part of the year: for 2026 the portals opened on 23 April at 6:15 AM, and the committee had not announced the winter closing date when this page was checked. BKTC publishes the times of its booked pujas, from the Abhishek Puja at 4:30 AM to the evening aarti from about 6:00 PM, but no general darshan window, and the state portal says the opening and closing times will be announced.
Photo: Bahuln89, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized
Badrinath timings in short
A seasonal shrine with a published opening date, an unannounced closing date, booked puja times and no published darshan hours.
History of Badrinath Temple
BKTC states the image of Badrinath was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya in the Narad Kund and re-enshrined in the 8th century. It was first placed in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs, and in the 16th century the King of Garhwal moved it to the present temple.
Wikipedia records that the temple suffered major damage in the Garhwal earthquake of 1803 and was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur, with renovation still under way in the 1870s. The temple today has three parts, the garbhagriha, the darshan mandapa and the sabha mandapa, under a conical roof about 15 metres high with a gilt cupola.
- Status
- Char Dham and Divya Desam
- Altitude
- 3,133 metres
- Re-enshrined
- 8th century, by Adi Shankaracharya
- Roof
- About 15 metres, gilt cupola
- Tapt Kund
- Hot spring at 55°C
- 2026 season
- Opened 23 April
Why Badrinath matters to Hindus
Badrinath is the Vishnu shrine of the Char Dham and one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnava tradition. BKTC describes the main image as a one-metre figure of Badrinath in black stone, in a meditative pose, worshipped alongside Kuber, Narad, Uddhava, Nar and Narayana.
The head priest, the Rawal, is by tradition a Nambudiri Brahmin from Kerala, a link across the length of India that Wikipedia traces to Adi Shankara. In winter the deity is worshipped at Jyotirmath until the portals reopen in spring.
More facts about Badrinath
- Deity
- Vishnu as Badrinath, a black stone image about one metre high
- Status
- One of the Char Dham and one of the 108 Divya Desams
- Where
- Badrinath, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on the Alaknanda
- Altitude
- 3,133 metres
- Administered by
- Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee
- Open
- April or May to November
- Also known as
- Badrinath Dham, Badrinarayan Temple, Shri Badrinath, Badri Vishal, Badrinath Mandir
Entry rules at Badrinath
Two things decide a Badrinath visit before the temple gate: registration and the season. The committee adds rules for booked pujas.
Registration
Char Dham pilgrims register with the Government of Uttarakhand through its portal or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
Photo ID
Booked pujas need a valid government photo ID: Voter ID, Aadhaar, driving licence, passport or PAN card.
Arrival
Reach the temple gate 15 to 30 minutes before a booked Abhishek, Path or Aarti.
Bookings
Puja bookings are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another name or date.
Eclipses
The temple is closed to pilgrims during solar and lunar eclipses.
Road
The 45 km Joshimath–Badrinath road is landslide-prone; check conditions before travelling.
Badrinath dress code
Neither BKTC nor the state portal publishes a dress code for Badrinath on the pages read here. The state portal does publish what to bring, and above 3,100 metres the clothing advice matters.
- Carry warm clothing: jacket, shawl, gloves and the like.
- Carry prescribed medicines, if any.
- Carry valid personal ID proof.
- Do not consume alcohol or tobacco.
How to reach Badrinath Temple
By air
BKTC names Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, 314 km away, as the nearest airport. The state portal notes helicopter services from Dehradun.
By train
BKTC gives Rishikesh railway station as 295 km away; the state portal also names Dehradun and Haridwar stations.
By road
By road about 300 km from Rishikesh and 320 km from Haridwar, 10 to 12 hours. The last 45 km from Joshimath is landslide-prone.
Best time to visit Badrinath
BKTC lists May to November as the months to travel, within a season that opened on 23 April in 2026. Snow closes the temple from about November to April, and the road beyond Joshimath is landslide-prone in the monsoon, so the weeks after opening and the autumn after the rains are the usual choices.
Within the day, the booked Abhishek Puja runs from 04:30 to 06:30 and the evening aarti from about 18:00. The committee publishes no general darshan hours, so plan around those and the queue.
Tips before you go
- Register for the Char Dham Yatra before you set out, on the state portal or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
- Carry warm clothing even in summer; the temple is above 3,100 metres.
- Keep a government photo ID with you for any booked puja.
- Stay at Joshimath, about 45 km away, if rooms at Badrinath are full; BKTC allows one night only in its guest houses.
- Visit Mana village, 4 km away, and Vasundhara Falls while you are there.
Not verified yet 6 items no official source publishes
- Daily darshan hours for 2026, which the state portal says will be announced.
- The 2026 closing date, due to be announced by BKTC.
- Any phone or camera rule inside the temple.
- A dress code; none is published on the official pages read here.
- Whether a darshan token or slot system operates in 2026.
- Road conditions on the Joshimath–Badrinath stretch on any given day.
Know one of these from an official notice? Send it to us and the page is updated with a new date.
Questions about visiting
Answered from what the temple publishes, with the gaps left as gaps.
When did Badrinath open in 2026?
The portals of Badrinath Dham opened on 23 April 2026 at 6:15 AM, according to All India Radio. With that, all four Char Dham shrines were open for the season.
When does Badrinath close for winter?
BKTC had not announced the 2026 closing date when this page was checked on 29 September 2026. In 2025 the temple closed on 25 November. BKTC describes the season as April or May to November.
What are the Badrinath Temple timings?
BKTC publishes booked puja times, not darshan hours: the Abhishek Puja from 4:30 AM to 6:30 AM and the evening aarti from around 6:00 PM in summer until 8:30 PM. The state portal says daily opening and closing times will be announced.
Do I need to register for Badrinath?
Yes. Badrinath is part of the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra registration run by the Government of Uttarakhand, through its web portal or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
What ID do I need?
For booked pujas BKTC asks for a valid government photo ID: Voter ID, Aadhaar, driving licence, passport or PAN card. The state portal also tells pilgrims to carry personal ID.
Is there a dress code at Badrinath?
None is published on the BKTC or state portal pages read here. The portal's advice is to carry warm clothing, because the temple is above 3,100 metres.
What is Tapt Kund?
A hot sulphur spring below the temple that Wikipedia gives as 55°C all year. Pilgrims traditionally bathe there before darshan.
Where is Badrinath worshipped in winter?
Wikipedia states that in winter the deity is worshipped at the Narasimha temple in Jyotirmath, while the Badrinath temple is closed by snow.
Who is the priest at Badrinath?
By tradition the head priest, the Rawal, is chosen from the Nambudiri Brahmin community of Kerala, according to Wikipedia.
How far is Badrinath from Rishikesh?
The state portal gives about 300 km by road from Rishikesh, 10 to 12 hours, and about 230 km from Kedarnath.
Is Badrinath closed during eclipses?
Yes. BKTC states the temple is closed to pilgrims during solar and lunar eclipses.
Can I rely on these timings on the day?
Only the season dates and the booked puja times are published. Check BKTC and the state portal before travelling, and check the road, which the portal describes as landslide-prone beyond Joshimath.
Need the timings in full?
The timings page carries the whole published schedule, block by block, and what to check before you travel.