Badrinath Temple: Badrinath, the abode of Lord Vishnu, is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrim centres in India and along with Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, forms the Char Dham (Four Holy Shrines). Situated in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, the town Badrinath lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of the Nilkantha peak (6,560 meters). Encompassed by a beautiful valley, the 15 meter high temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. By travelling 301 km north of Rishikesh you can reach Badrinath. From Gaurikund (near Kedarnath)
to Badrinath by road is 233 km. Badrinath temple dates back to the 9th Century and is founded by Shri Shankaracharya. Devotees take a holy dip in the Tapt Kund, the natural thermal springs on the banks of the Alaknanda, before entering the Badrinath Temple. The water of the kund is believed to have curative properties.
The Mana Village is considered to be the last Indian village before Tibet on this route. Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, Mana is just 4 km from Badrinath, at a height of around 3,400 meters. Nearby are Vyas Gufa – the rock cave of saint Ved Vyas, the writer of Mahabharata. A short distance away you can see the Bhim Pul – a natural bridge over the Saraswati river and Vasundhara Falls – a 122 meter high waterfall. Colourful Carpets, blankets and jerseys are all on sale in this village.