Badrinath Temple

Badrinath, one of the four Char Dham and a Divya Desam revered by Sri Vaishnava tradition, occupies a narrow valley between the Nar and Narayan ranges at 3,100 metres. Adi Shankaracharya is credited with recovering the black-stone image of Badrinarayan from the Alaknanda river and reestablishing worship here in the 9th century; the present structure, repeatedly rebuilt after avalanche and earthquake damage, dates largely to Garhwal-dynasty patronage. Unlike the plain stone Kedarnath, Badrinath's roof is brightly painted in the Himalayan style found across the valley, reflecting shared building traditions with nearby Tibetan-influenced shrines. Pilgrims bathe in the naturally hot Tapt Kund springs before entering, and the temple closes completely each winter as snow seals the valley for six months.