We relaxed a while and left the hotel around 7.30 PM for Badrinath Darshan.On reaching we took the coupons for darshan from the market which was just near the temple on which expected time for darshan was mentioned. After crossing the market and a foot over bridge over Alaknanda river we reached near the temple, from there stairs go down to Tapt kund. Kund is filled with hot spring water. It is said that one should take a bath in Tapt kund before the visit to Badrinath temple.
Badrinath – Sunrise
Tapth Kund
Tapt kund
After taking a holy dip in the kund we purchased puja samagri and moved towards the temple where we joined the long queue waiting for darshan.
long queue for Darshan
We were totally muddled what to do to see the long queue .We were doubtful that whether we would be able to visit the temple the same day but to our surprise unlike other temples our turn came within one hour as there one can afford to do hasty darshan because of too much of rush.The main entrance gate of the Badrnath is very colourful and known as “Singhdwar.”
Badrinath – Night View
Badrinath was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It is said that Shankara discovered the image of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund (Hot Spring). Later the King of Garhwal moved that image to the present temple. Since then the temple has undergone several major renovations by many people.
Badrinath
Legend says that one day Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were doing tapasya in Badrinath. They got disturbed by a small boy (Lord Vishnu in disguise) who was crying. When Parvati asked the reason of his crying he replied that he wanted Badrinath for meditation. After that Shiva and Parvati both moved to Kedarnath.
Badrinath is situated at the bank of river Alaknanda in the lap of Nar & Narayana Hills at a height of 3110 metres above sea level.
Market – Badrinath
The temple is divided into three parts. The first is “ Garbh Garah” in which the idol of Badrinath is seated in the inner part of this place and canopy covered with Gold sheet.
Second one is known as “Dharshan Mandap” in which prayer and ceremonies are performed and it can accommodate few people.
Third and last one is “Sabha Mandap” where devotes wait for darshan of lord Badrinath.
The pujari of Badrinath temple is known as “Rawal” who is Namboodri Brahmin of Kerala.
The Rawal is appointed by the Badrinath temple committee and the Maharaja of Tehri.
After having Darshan of Lord Badrinath we came out of temple and clicked some of the pictures and went to a restaurant for Dinner. After having dinner we went to nearby shops and purchased few souvenirs and kids followed their Grandparents to go to hotels as they were too tired and wanted to sleep.
Badrinath – Night View
After spending half an hour in the market we also left for our Hotel . Our next day plan was to visit Village Mana
(Last village of India).
Next day we got up late at 7.00 AM as we were quite exhausted with the long journey. Around 8.00 AM we left for Mana, better known as the last Indian village before the border with Tibet located at 3 kms from Badrinath we took around 15 mins to reach the place.
Good morning Badrinath
Badrinath – Morning View
Badrinath – Morning View
Our vehicles were parked at the gate(entrance) of village. The village can be explored by foot only. While crossing the narrow lanes of the village one can see the traditional houses.
Parking Mana
Mana village attained its name from the Manas Putra – son of Lord Brahma. The village also attains importance as Pandavas after the Mahabharata decided to renounce the world and to attain salvation. It is said that they reached Mana village for their onward journey towards Swarag Rohini. The onward journey towards the heavens steps could not be completed by all the pandava brothers except Yudhistara – who climbed the steps to swarag rohini in his worldly body. These swarag rohini steps start from few kms away from the proper village Mana. Village Mana
The inhabitants of Mana are the last generations of Mongol tribes.
Localities
Mana village holds a lot of mythological relevance one can see the traces of Mahabharata scattered across this village.
After crossing the village we reached to Bhimpul. It is the most visited tourist spot in Mana village. It is believed that the Pandvas on their way to the heaven found it difficult for their wife Draupadi to cross the river Saraswati, Bhim fetched a single rock and placed it across the river, thus creating a natural bridge to enable Draupadi to cross it.
Bhim pul
Bhimpul
Bhimpul
From here one can see the origin of river Saraswati. The legend is that Lord Brahma undertakes the creation of the world through creative speech and goddess Saraswati is born in his mouth or tongue. The river is in full spate at this place before it vanishes after a few miles in Brahm Kund to re-originate at Prayag (Allahabad) at the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Orign – River Saraswati
Temple – Saraswati devi
Temple – Saraswati devi
Saraswati devi temple
Other nearby places to visit are Ganesh Gufa , Vyas gufa & Vasudhara fall.
View from Bhimpul
Mana
Mana
Mana pass is the highest motorable road but it is not opened for the public.
After spending some time there we came back to our parked vehicle and had some light breakfast and proceeded our journey back to dehradun.We had a night stay near by Rudarprayag and next day reached Dehradun by 2.00 PM.
Karanpryag
Last night of the trip
Our unforgettable journey ends here.
Very good photos and nice description. Thanks
Thanks for liking the post !
Mahesh ji,
Great detailed description of Badrinath ji and Mana Village. The narration was really impressive and pictures were too captivating.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your appriciation !
Thank you Mahesh.
I have not been to Badri but I have read many stories. I do not remember a mention of ‘Coupon System’ in any of the stories and always thought that it would be a kind of FCFS queue basis. It is really comforting to know that there is a system for manage rush. Second thing is about photos. Some of the them really give a good view of local setup (parking etc). A great finale to a multi-year trip :-).
There is a coupon system in BN , its a chance that nobody mentioned it.
Thanks for appreciating the post & photographs.
Maheshji , thanks for Badrinath darshan…
Thanks Venkat !
Thank you, Mahesh Ji for sharing such a wonderful journey with us. The pictures are also good.
Like Nandan Ji said, I have been to Badrinath 4 times but never came across the coupon system. I always go there when its not the peak time so probably they issue coupons to control the crowd when it is heavily crowded.
Did you meet/see the Naga Sadhu (Baba barfani das) at the cave just before Bheem Pul? He is one of the attractions at Bheem Pul?
Coupon counter is near parking , may be they use to issue coupons during peak season.
No we were not able to met Naga baba.
@ Nandan
@ Bhatt sab
for your kind reference :-
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3416477.ece?css=print
Good one Mahesh ji… I remembered my own journey.
thanks Sir !
Nice post with many vivid pictures.
It felt we are seeing Badrinath with our own eyes.
Thanks for liking post !
Nice post on Badrinath & Mana village.
I just wish to think this post as “Badrinath calling for me within a year, if not this year”…
Thoroughly enjoyed the journey from start to end.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thanks for your encouraging words !
Very informative post Mahesh Ji. Pictures are too good. View of entry gate & bhimpul is beautiful and good to see “Hindustan ki antim dukan”
Thanks for going through the post & liking it.
Hi Mahesh,
It has been an engrossing journey with Badrinath finale.
The posts with all the details will be useful when I am finally able to make it there.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Nirdesh !
Mahesh Ji…
Very nice post along with good captured pictures of Badrinath Dham.. Once time i have been Badrinath.
Thanks of remember my journey
Ritesh……
Thanks Ritesh !
Dear Mahesh Semwal,
I have never been to Badrinath and this post of yours has given me a very detailed description of the journey which I can certainly use to my great benefit whenever the occasion presents itself before me. The photographs too reveal a lot about the mood of the holy place. Here in Saharanpur, I read Mana …… kms. on milestones (it should be changed to kilometer stones!). For many years, I didn’t know what MANA is.
Thanks a lot for sharing it.
Thanks Sushant ji for your encouraging words !
Respected Mahesh Ji,Visit defined well n effectively with nice clicks,Thanks a lot.
Thanks Dr. Gandhi !
Hi,
Beautiful factual description of things.
I intend to go to Badrinath Ji with my family next week.I am sure that now virtually accustomed to Badrinath Ji with the help of your description ,It will be breeze.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
Nitin
Thanks Nitin for going through the post & leaving comment.
Best of luck for your trip. Share your exp. once you are back.
Hello Mahesh ji,
I need help and advice regarding Badrinath tour.I am planning to visit Badrinath on July 3rd.I have 04 days in my hand.Please advice me on how I can reach Badrinath from Dehradun in quickest possibel time.I wanted to visit just Badrinath.After google search I am so confused as everyone suggest different different route and I am unable to get a proper reply.Grateful if you or any other Ghumakkar member can help me.It is kind of really urgent for me as I had to plan lots of domestic travel and to book.
Thanks and Regards,
Abhee
Wowwwwww!!!!!!
When I first travelled on NH 58 16 years back, during my maiden visit to Haridwar, I read about Mana on milestones which was some 600 KMs from Modinagar…
However, as mentioned by Sushant ji, I also never tried to findout what this Mana is.
Somehow, I could reach to your this post & with curiosity of finding about Mana, clicked the link.
I had spent almost last 1.5 hours in reading your all 10 posts, watching so so beautiful pics & appreciating your passion towards this trip.
Hats off to you sir & also to your family, including uncle & aunty…. I have just thought about these trips but had never dared to go through any.
After reading this series of posts, the urge & eagerness of visiting them is too much.
Thank you so much for posting all these details here.
Stay blessed!!