Badrinath: Temple Timings, Mana Village and Where to Stay
The most accessible of the four shrines, the walk to the last village before Tibet, and why rooms here need booking far earlier than people expect.
Badrinath is the easiest of the Char Dham to reach and the one where accommodation causes the most trouble. The temple is motorable — no trek, no shuttle — which means everyone can get there, and the town is small enough that everyone cannot stay there.
Getting there
Roughly 295 km from Rishikesh, via Devprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh; the nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun. It is a long day's drive from Rishikesh and a manageable half-day from Joshimath, which is why so many itineraries break the journey there.
The temple
The shrine sits on the left bank of the Alaknanda at about 3,130 m, opening between late April and early May and closing around mid-November, after which the town largely empties for winter. Below the temple steps is Tapt Kund, a natural hot sulphur spring where pilgrims bathe before darshan — genuinely hot, and a strange pleasure at that altitude. Behind it all stands Neelkanth, which catches light before the valley does.
Mana — the last village
About 3 km beyond the temple is Mana, the last Indian village before the Tibet border, and it is worth the morning:
- Bheem Pul — a natural rock slab bridging the Saraswati, tied to the Mahabharata.
- Vasudhara Falls — a high waterfall reached on foot across open moraine and meadow.
- Charan Paduka — a boulder on the slope above town bearing a mark revered as Vishnu's footprint.
Vasudhara is a real walk, not a viewpoint. Give it half a day and start early.
The room problem
This is the practical thing to plan around. Badrinath has limited rooms and two windows — May to June and September to October — when demand far exceeds them. People arrive expecting to find something on the day and end up driving back down the valley at night. Look at what is available in Badrinath as soon as your dates are fixed, and treat Joshimath as the honest fallback rather than the emergency one. For more on the town itself, the Badrinath destination guide covers attractions and travel tips in detail.
Altitude and cold
At over 3,000 m the nights stay cold in every month, including June. Carry warm layers regardless of the forecast. If you have come straight up from the plains, take the first day gently — the temple is not going anywhere, and the walk to Mana is much better on a day when you can breathe.
Registration and ID
Char Dham registration is required, and the ID you registered with is the one to carry. This gets checked. Sort it before you leave rather than at a checkpost.
Continuing on to Hemkund Sahib or the Valley of Flowers? Both start from Govindghat, which is on the same road, and it is an easy add to a Badrinath trip.
Before you go
- Rooms in Badrinath are limited and fill early for the May-June and September-October windows.
- Tapt Kund, the hot sulphur spring below the temple steps, is where pilgrims bathe before darshan.
- Nights stay cold at over 3,000 m even in summer — carry warm layers in every month.
- Vasudhara Falls from Mana is a half-day walk, not a roadside viewpoint.
Good to know
- Badrinath is roughly 295 km from Rishikesh via Devprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath.
- Mana, about 3 km beyond the temple, is the last Indian village before the Tibet border.
- The town largely empties for winter once the shrine closes in mid-November.
Frequently asked questions
When is Badrinath temple open?
Roughly from late April or early May until the second half of November. The opening date is announced each year on Basant Panchami and the closing date around Vijayadashami.
How do I reach Badrinath?
By road, about 295 km from Rishikesh via Devprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun.
Is there a trek to Badrinath temple?
No. Badrinath is motorable right up to the temple, which makes it the most accessible of the four Char Dham shrines.
How far is Mana village from Badrinath?
About 3 km beyond the temple. It is the last Indian village before the Tibet border and the starting point for the walk to Vasudhara Falls.
Need a room on this route?
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