BADRINATH TEMPLE

The foundations of the Shri Badrinath Dham temple (also called Badrinarayana) date from the ^8th century, but the present temple was built 400 years ago. Dedicated to Vishnu, it is the most important of the two "Char Dham" sites.

While the brightly painted exterior façade is rather surprising, the interior, with its floodlights, modern clock, cameras, and cheap chandelier, takes away some of its charm and mystical atmosphere.

Brahmin priests from Kerala officiate on request. It must be said that once night falls, the place is tinged with an unspeakable magic, and the thousand-year-old melody of the sitars that accompany the prayers makes you fall, like Alice in Wonderland, in an imaginary world and yet so real. Going back down the left staircase, you will see the pilgrims (males only!) bathing in hot baths, each one having a name, and a very precise meaning.

Smart tip: Aditya K.Patwal, the manager of the Rudraksh Emporium store, can arrange a VIP tour of the temple. You won't have to queue and, if you wish, you can even meet the temple priest in private as he is his childhood friend! Go and see Aditya in his store, he will be happy to organize this visit with you. It is totally free but you can take the opportunity to buy a souvenir in his nice store to thank him. Thanks to him, you will avoid up to 2 hours of queue and when it's hot it's really appreciable.