Sapta Badri
Sapta Badri as the name suggets is a is a group of seven temples of Lord Vishnu which are located in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The Alaknanda River Valley starting from Nandprayag to the Satopanth (around 24 kms above Badrinath), is known as Badri Kshetra (Abode of Lord Vishnu). You will find a number of temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in this area.
The Badrinath Dham is also known as Badri Vishal is the primary temple (It is also among the Char Dham of India) among the seven shrines, followed by six others, namely, Adi Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Yogadhayan Badri, Vriddha Badri, Ardha Badri and Dhyan Badri.
Temples included in Sapta Badri yatra circuit:
- The Badrinath temple
- Adi Badri
- Vridha Badri
- Dhyan Badri
- Ardha Badri
- Bhavishya Badri
- Yogadhayan Badri
The Panch Badri temple circuit consisted of only five temples, omitting Ardha Badri and Dhyan Badri or sometimes Vridha Badri. Rarely, Narasingh Badri is included in the Sapta Badri or Panch Badri list.
1. Badrinath Temple (Badri Vishal)
Badrinath Temple is part part of 108 Divyadesams and Char Dham Yatra. The Badrinath legend states that Vishnu (Mahavishnu) in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, did penance in an open space at the location of the Badrikashram or Badrinath.
2. Adi Badri
The Adi Badri is a 16 temple complex and first build among the Sapta Badri temples is an ancient shrine dedicated to Vishnu in Uttarakhand. Adi Badri is located 3 kilometres from Chandpur Garhi.
3. Vriddha Badri
Vriddha Badri is located in the Animath village around 7 kms from Joshimath. The Vriddha Badri legend says that Vishnu appeared in the form of a Vriddha or old man before sage Narada who performed penance here. Thus, the idol installed at this temple is in the form of an old man.
4. Bhavishya Badri
Bhavishya Badri is located in a village called Subhain at a distance of 17 kilometres from Joshimath, and can be reached by trekking. According to the legend of Bhavishya Badri, when evil transcends the world, the mountains of Nara and Narayana would block up the route to Badrinath and the sacred shrine would become inaccessible. Then, Badrinath will appear at the Bhavishya Badri temple and be worshipped here, instead of the Badrinath shrine.
5. Yogadhyan Badri
Yogadhyan Badri is also called Yoga Badri, is located at Pandukeshwaron main Badrinath Road. Legend says that Pandu, the father of pandavas died and attained salvation here. Also, Kunti was married to Pandu at Pandukeshwar at the same spot.
6. Dhyan Badri
Dhyan Badri is located in the Urgam valley, close to Kalpeshwar on the banks of river Kalpa Ganga. It can be reached from Helang which is situated on the Chamoli-Joshimath Road.
7. Ardh Badri
Ardha Badri is located on the Joshimath-Tapovan road is in a remote village and can be approached only by trekking. As the size of the idol is small, the temple is called Ardha Badri means half Badri.
Narasingh Badri
The existing temple of Narasimha at Joshimath is also called as Narasingh Badri or Narasimha Badri, is closely linked to the Bhavishya Badri legend, even though usually it is regarded as not one of the famous Panch Badri or Sapta Badri. Sometimes, it may be included in the Sapta-Badri list instead of Ardha-Badri or Panch-Badri list instead of Dhyan Badri.
Sapta Badri Tour - Suggested Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Haridwar to Joshimath and visit Narsingh Badri Temple.
Day 2: Joshimath to Pandukeshwar on Badrinath Road and Visit Yog Badri. Travel further to Badrinath Dham and visit Badrinath Temple.
Day 3: Badrinath to Joshimath to Saldhar to Bhavishya Badri (6 kms trek) and back to Joshimath.
Day 4: Joshimath - Vridhha Badri (Animath village) to Urgam Village and visit Dhyaan Badri
Day 5: Urgam to Karnaprayag and visit Adi Badri. Return to Haridwar
Sapta Badri Temples Video
Location and how to reach Sapt Badri's
The main shrine of Badrinath is well connected by road and air but is closed during the winter season due to snow conditions, from October–November to April–May depending on the astrological dates fixed by the Temple Committee. The Raj Purohit (Royal priest) decides the auspicious day for opening the Badrinath temple.
The other six temples of Sapt Badri and Panch Badri are located in villages, largely in remote locations. A few of them can be approached only by trekking.
While some shrines are approached by motorable roads, others are approachable from the nearest road head by trekking, on the Rishikesh-Badrinath main State Highway. The nearest airport to the Sapta Badri is Jolly Grant Airport close to Rishikesh, but 25 kilometres to Dehradun.
Motorable road distance to the seven shrines of Badri from Rishikesh are:
- Rishikesh to Badrinath - 299 kms
- Rishikesh to Yogdhyan Badri - 277 kms
- Rishikesh to Adi Badri - 200 kms
- Rishikesh to Dhyan Badri - 299 kms
- Rishikesh to Bhavishya Badri - 280 kms
- Joshimath to Vridha Badri - 7 kms
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