Badrinath & The last Indian village - Mana
BADRINATH - A Hindu temple located in Himalayas at an altitude of 3300 mts /10,826 ft.
This is one of the holiest Temple in India dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Also one among the Char Dham pilgrimage temples of Himalayas (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath).
Where it is located
It is located in the remote village named itself as Badrinath in district of Chamoli of Uttarakhand State. It is almost 300 km from Rishikesh. (Rishikesh is 230 km from New Delhi).
There is no trekking required to reach this temple, A direct road facility from BRO available, Just like other Char Dham temples, this temples will be open only 6 months in the year from May to November.
How to reach
By road 🚘- Badrinath Village can be easily accessible by road, Many Taxis or Buses available from Rishikesh / Haridhwar. Some times we might have to switch the buses to reach till Badrinath via Karnaprayag and Joshimath (Pre plan your trip via road ). Nearest town is Joshimath.
Additionally or Most importantly, Travelers who like to ride a bike on these mountain roads will not be disappointed at any time. Because Rishikesh is the place where you can hire Bikes for any number of days, Many Bike rental shops are available and can be contacted by online also to book your bike. Usual price for a Bike varies 600 to 1200 per day based on the models.
Self drive cars are very limited at Rishikesh and may not be available most of the time, So it is better to take it from Delhi as required.
There are direct Buses available from Rishikesh / Haridhwar all the way to Badrinath, which might start at 5.00 am in the morning. There are Cabs/Taxi also available from Rudraprayag, Srinagar and other Many districts.
By train 🚊- Train facilities not available to reach this place, Haridhwar railway station is located around 300 km from the Badrinath. Private and Government UTC buses will be available to reach Badrinath/Joshimath from railway station.
By Air ✈️- Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport - Dehradun, Which is 310 km from Badrinath. Dehradun airport and Rishikesh are just 20 km apart. It is better to reach Rishikesh from airport and get taxis or Buses. In the peak season Many taxis will be available from airport only.
Best time to visit
Temple will be open only between the months of May to November, Travelers are not allowed to go beyond Joshimath once the temple is closed, Joshimath is a nearest city (45 km) and which is tourist attraction of main place Auli. Joshimath can be reached through out the year.
Summer - April to June : Is the best time to visit to enjoy the pleasant weather and amazing nature with melting snow.
Rainy - June to September : Drive will be good for people who love to explore the place in rain, But there might be chances of more landfall in rainy seasons. Please be prepare for cautions. But in this time the temple will be open all day for worship.
Winter - October to November : Best time to explore with adventure, fully covered with fresh Snowfall and peaceful climate. usually snow fall starts from mid November, depending on the weather conditions.
Please check the Dates online before your plan, based on the snowfall and other things, temple will be closed in the end of October or Mid of November.
Drive Difficulty level 🏍
The entire stretch from Rishikesh to Badrinath is among mountain curve roads, The road condition is very good through out the journey, somewhere on new landslide areas some construction will be going on. So i say it is easy to moderate, but must have driving skills and mountain sickness might be a nightmare.
Time required - 8-10 hrs required to reach Badrinath, You can plan it for one or two day based on your comfort.
Accommodation / Camping
Many budget hotels available in the Badrinath village. Online booking also available sometimes, but no worries you can get once you reach the place, But plan it on festival days.
Camping inside the village of Badrinath may or may not be allowed depending on the current scenarios, please inquire at the check post as you enter to Badrinath.
Food 🍎- Many hotels are available around the temple and only VEG, Alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Permission - A checking from the BRO happens sometime at the check post of Joshimath, An ID is enough to pass through.
Things to carry - Since it is complete mountain ride, take care of your stomach very well, As you reach the higher altitude might get headache and stomach upset. take necessary medicine kit. A must Camera is compulsory. 😀.
Precautions
Driving safe is the first precautions, Landslide might occur very often which may change your travel time. Bikers be careful all the time.
Temple Timings ⌚️ : Everyday - Morning - 6.30 am to Noon. Again 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Experiences
Stay at mountain is the best moment of our life, Sunrise/Sunset beauty is mind blowing, Billion stars to see at night. Wide range of white mountains beauty is unexplained.
A bath at natural Hot stream Tapta Kund pond is awesome.
ATTRACTIONS:
Hot water stream Kund (Pond) and Charan Paduka - A rock having the footprints of Lord Vishnu.
The last Indian village - MANA (3 km from Badrinath) and The Last Indian Tea shop & some Shopping.
Valley of Flower - This is a paradise for trekkers, Between Joshimath and Badrinath at Govind Ghat. Which is 15 km trek from Govind ghat. Opens only 4-5 months in a year.
Gurudhwara Shri Hemakund Sahib - Which is in between Valley of flower and Govind Ghat on trekking path, further 6 km in another direction, The height of this place is half of Mount Everest. 3-4 days required along with valley of flowers. Tent accommodation available. More information will be shared soon on a separate Blog Page.
Travel plan
Badrinath is located in Uttarakhand, India.
Detailed travel plans for Char Dham with various options are explained on the Guide page.
Check the link below for more information.
“There are men who practice Titiksha, and succeed in it. There are men who sleep on the banks of the Ganga in the midsummer sun of India, and in winter float in the waters of the Ganga for a whole day; they do not care. Men sit in the snow of the Himalayas, and do not care to wear any garment. What is heat? What is cold? Let things come and go, what is that to me, I am not the body.”
MY TRIP STORY TO THE MIGHTY HIMALAYAS ON A VERY FIRST TIME :-
RIDE ALONE
HISTORY - Basically am from Bangalore working in an IT company, I got an offer to move to Delhi in May 2017. Its been 2 months after joining in Delhi, I saw a photo of my new colleague Poorna in Facebook, it was amazing…. Practically I didn’t see him in the photo I was looking at the background he was standing in front of it, it was mighty Himalayas. He is from Mangalore and he is in Delhi for couple of years already covered most of the places in Himalayas including Spiti and Sach Pass. The next day I met him asked about his travels to Himalayas, An amazing person to share his experience about travel. after hearing about Himalayas.. That’s it,,, What next.., 😈 what am i thinking… 😈😈😈
THE PLAN - Am a Bachelor, staying alone far from home. Nothing else to do on weekends, being a traveler at south India I never got a chance to visit north India due to time and of course money. Now I have time and little money to travel to Himalayas. But how? 🤔🤔🤔… I hardly know few friends in new office and no old friends in Delhi. Either I have to convince my new friends or drop the plan☹️…… Am a type of stranger to new friends and don’t make friendship much easier so i was terrifying to ask…. and yet tried with some fellows and as soon as they hear the plan they rejected it…. f****t… Somebody even said are you mad….. do you even know what is travel ??? 😪😪😪😪… yes true….. The Plan was very quiet simple.…
FRIDAY NIGHT – BUS TO RISHIKESH
SATURDAY – TRAVEL TO BADRINATH BY RENTAL BIKE!!!
SUNDAY – RETURN TO RISHIKESH AND OVER NIGHT BUS TO DELHI
1200 KM in just 2 days. 🥰 that’s all…. 😁
Do you think it’s complicated my friends ?????? I know what your thinking….. Its the perfect weekend get away. hehehe. 😁😁😁
BEFORE THE TRAVEL - What happened in Shimla Bus 🚍????? 😨😨😨
Shimla????🤔🤔🤔… What happened to Badrinath … !!! 🙃🙃🙃
I had planned to visit 3 weeks from today and it was my first ever Himalayas plan to Badrinath and i really want to make the most of it and be very careful… Most of my colleagues said its not a good plan nor safe too, i really appreciate their concern but… When you want to go you gotttttaaaa go… that’s it.!! 😈 .. this is my way of travel. The friend Poorna, i wasn’t aware of him much just another colleague, i couldn’t ask him because i got to know he already has a plan to visit some other place in coming weekends 😎. Now no one is ready to accompany my travel. I decided to drop the plan because i have never traveled alone in south India itself, i always traveled with my friends. Being in that way how come i go alone to Himalayas that too in Bike 😭🙃…. I started to get fear on myself and my mind was keep telling to drop the plan,,,, SCARED,, so finally i dropped it…
I couldn’t sleep for 2 days, even though my mind is scared, my heart was ready to go. (This dialogue typically from Indian movie only 🤣🤣🤣). So i made some changes to convince myself, Lets go to Shimla in Bus and stay over weekend and come back on Monday morning, Direct Bus no problem, Safe place, good climate, Himalayas too, not to worry much. i will have some experience on travelling alone and it might help in Badrinath plan.
So same weekend, ticket booked both sides for Friday night and Sunday Night and Room also booked for Saturday night, everything is set…. On Friday, i packed myself and told my roommate am travelling to Shimla & he said Awesome bro, have a safe journey 😎. Then i went to bus stand and was awaiting for my Bus to arrive. 10.30 pm.
I was happy to see Himalayas and my imagination and curiosity was so high!! The Bus arrived….. 😃… i went inside the Bus…. The moment i saw the passengers i was 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐……. completely shocked,, There were only newly married couples and some strange non-Married couples…😆… on that BUS 🚍. I was the only GUY who was alone,, then i realized Shimla is a Honeymoon paradise in reality,,,, Everyone was looking at me like a terrorist,, i went to my seat, sat near to window, as i booked to see the Himalayas in morning… I was scared again to go to Shimla, i was feeling suffocation among those couples, and in that AC VOLVO BUS i was sweating like anything, The driver was waiting for 2 more passengers… i was wishing in God at least those 2 passengers were not any chance a couples,, .. 😰.. Here they arrived,, and guess me,,, They were not just couples,, Ultra couples,,, “Come on Baby,,,, hold my hand,,,, take my bag,, where is my water bottle,,,blahh blahhh…. ” Oh my god,,, uff,,, I was out of control & scared and got down from that bus there itself,,, told the driver something emergency i need to go back, It was almost 11.30,, immediately Booked a cab back to room, came back and had 2 glass of Water with _____ and slept. No Shimla No Himalayas, such a Jerk…
I felt myself as a Dumb traveler!!! I was very sad to say about myself….. As a Traveler.
What am i doing here.., Why am i over-acting.., !!!!!!!!!
It took 2 days to get my spirit back and decided to go Badrinath in Bike in the next weekend itself.
So lets go to Badrinath!!! ALONE!!! 😎😈.. This time in Real…
The Day of Courage
I lost few money by booking tickets and room for Shimla,, but couldn’t care… The whole week was prepared well and was awaiting for Friday to arrive,,, 😎,,, finally got a Bus 🚍 to Rishikesh from Delhi at 10.30 pm and this time i got down from bus not to run away,,,,, don’t kill me,,, just for 1 tea ☕️ and 1,,, That thing,,,, to be warm,, 😆😆😆😆… Bachelor right,, what to do,, no restrictions.., 😆… Reached Rishikesh by 5.30 Am,,, Amazed to see Ganga River for the first time in life,,,, I already booked a Rental bike nothing but Royal Enfield 350… 1000 Rs/- per day.., The Rental Bike owner name is Ashwani Bagga… of AxxA Expedition, Adventure Sports company… What a Man he is,, One of My inspiration idol… Would like to talk about him more,, may be in some other time…
Finally,,.. Its 7 am,,, Saturday,,, Got his personal bike 🏍 itself.., Mobile fully charged,, Earphones On,, Navigator On,, Gloves On 🧤,, Helmet on (to the Head.. only.. ),, No more additional biking kits,, Just a casual woodland shoes and jeans, T-shirt and Regular Leather Jacket… of course full tank petrol,,, Tied my small backpack behind,, And the Journey to Mighty White mountains started just like that… 🗻🗻🗻budubudubudubudubudubuduuuuuuu,,,,,,,,, 💨💨💨💨💨
Rishikesh to Badrinath 300 km,,, Google said 10 hr journey,, (30-40 km/hr.. is it??? ) and i have only 2 days,, the next day Sunday evening i have to return Rishikesh and catch a Bus to 🚍 to Delhi at 11 pm. I just saw on the Google maps and YouTube,, how the road condition is and it was completely on the mountains only,, I Drove in a hurry to reach ASAP but with safety all the time,,, it was a beautiful road starting from Rishikesh itself,,, we go to the top of the mountains and we descend,, it keeps repeating for every 30-40 km,,, Amazing ride,,, The Road drives just next to the river Ganga all the way to the Devprayag,, 75 km.. I didn’t stop anywhere for that stretch,, as i didn’t know what might happen before Badrinath and i have to cross Joshimath before sunset,,,,, In just 2.5 hours i reached Devprayag,,,,, An amazing place where Bhaghirathi river and Alakananda river merge to become Ganga river,,, Bhaghirathi river starts from Gangotri,, Alakanandha river starts from Badrinath,, That’s where we are going...
After giving a First stop 🚩,, Time was still 9.30 Am,, and still 225 km left,, I had a Small breakfast of Veg Masala Maggie 🍲,,, It was amazing at that beauty of nature,, flowing river sound,, silence wind blowing,,, in between a heartbreaking horns on roadside (necessary on curve roads),,, NKN… did i missed anything here, ??? for those who thinking what about tea??? Cheers,,, ☕️☕️☕️… A good company for life time… The altitude was getting high slowly,, still not feeling any cold,,, removed the Jackets and Started again… Came across to Rudraprayag,,, Saw a Board showing Left directions to KEDARNATH… OMG… I was thinking to take a left,, but not this time… Lets not change the plan… Reached Karnaprayag by 1.30 PM,, 90 km from Devprayag… 3.5 hrs ride,, with in between Photography😘😘😘,,, Road conditions are good but sometime due to landslide,, the roads were constructed by BRO,,, slow traffic.. Muddy road,, slippery,, and Rain too,,, its July,, of course Rain,, But my luck,, that day was only drizzle here & there,,, 🌦🌦🌦… 🌈… Had a Roti Dal 🍪🥣 meals at Karnaprayag,, good one,, asked about road conditions to Joshimath,, inquired few things and with out wasting any time,, started again,,, 2.00 pm..
I don’t remember exactly,, either before Chamoli or After Chamoli,, for a few km stretch,, a double road is available and its a bit of straight road,,, Without my permission my bike was going in 90,, The most important thing which i very much excited was to see white mountains 🗻🗻🗻 for the very first time in my life,, which i waited for almost a decades,, i was keep looking at far distance where i can see at least a glimpse of view,, Bad luck,,, rainy clouds,,, Reached Joshimath by 4.30 pm ⌚️,, 80 km,, 2.5 hr…. Filled the Fuel after the check post,,, I was very happy to cross the Joshimath,, because it ll be closed after sunset,,.. Still now i couldn’t see snow covered mountains,,, It was July,, almost most the snow were melted,, and even the most active tourist spot Auli was just 3 km away,, There used to be Snow riding in winter season.., So now only 45 km left,, Time is 5 pm ⌚️.., Started feeling a bit cold,,,
Till now the 250 km drive was the amazing drive which i had in my life,, but the last 45 km drive between Joshimath and Badrinath made me to feel proud of my country,,, I realized India is far far far better than Switzerland,, I felt 250 km drive was nothing in front of this last 45 km drive,,, as soon as i cross so many bridges,, and going higher in altitude,, started feeling pure oxygen and more cold,,, after 20 km,,, gave a stop 🚩 at Govind Ghat, where the base camp for Valley of flowers and Hemakund Sahib trek.. The Tea ☕️ at that location at that time, i will never ever forget in my life,,, Since i was at an higher altitude, it was still looking like 4 pm,,
Couldn’t wait much, finished tea, photo session,, engine starts,,, on the last 20 km stretch i had a first glimpse of White mountain,, it was not clear,, it was on top of the mountain,,,, i stopped my bike and made sure to see it is snow or what,… Guess,,, It was the Mighty Himalayas 🗻,,, ,,, ,,,, ,,,, i was literally crying myself after seeing that,,,,, The last 1 km,,, Badrinath Check post,,, Entered the BADRINATH village!! FINALLY,,,, I MADE IT,,, it was 6.30 pm,,,,, As soon as i reached inside,, i stopped my bike and kneel down to the Himalayas and to the Bike,,,,,,
Tomorrow morning i need to start ASAP to go back to Rishikesh,,, So i had only little time here,,,, i immediately reached THE LAST INDIAN VILLAGE - MANA,, just 3 km from Badrinath,,, Went to THE LAST INDIAN TEA SHOP - of course had TEA ☕️,,,,,, I couldn’t imagine that i will be a place like this one day,, almost Indo-China Border… Came back to Badrinath, took a room for 400 Rs/- and took the dress and went o Hot stream Kund,, That was the first time i saw A natural hot water pond,, i took a bath in that cold climate,, Amazing experience,,,, Got fresh,, went to temple Had Darshan,, Blessed,,, Had a great walk on Himalayas at 1 degree Celsius,,,,, TRULY BLESS-FULL!!!
BADRINATH - THE PLACE WHERE I FOUND MYSELF A TRUE COURAGE. 🪔
Early morning woke up by 6 am,, checked out,, Returned back via same route to Rishikesh,, Reached by 7 pm, Awaited for Bus to Delhi and morning 7 am i was back at Home.
600 km Bike ride, 500 km Bus ride,, 1 Weekend,, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!,,, Somebody said are you mad….. do you even know what is travel ??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣,, le,,,
THE END
The next day i went to office, my Colleagues were happy about my travel and That day i felt there is something inside me about travel and lets bring it out!!! immediately i went to Toilet,,, That day almost 5 times i went to Toilet again and again,, eating junks for 2 days made loose motion after coming from trip,,, 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Most importantly,, the only thing which i felt bad about that trip is,, there were no my friends to share my feelings on that day,, and there was no network to call,, My bad luck,,, So i decided to bring them here ASAP,,, Luckily next year somehow plan was Fixed,, We all came almost 18 people and visited Badrinath and Tungnath in just 3-4 days from Bangalore!!
““If you want to go somewhere - JUST KEEP GOING - BE SAFE’”
My Second time visit - Badrinath
If any information is insufficient or if any latest updates from the recent travelers, Please leave your comments below.., Your comments are most welcome & valuable.
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