Badrinath in October is one of the best times to visit for a hassle-free trip. Badrinath is one of the most holy places for Hindus in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Lord Vishnu resides inside the temple. People believe that one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu lived here. Thousands of people visit this temple to seek blessings. The temperatures during October are a bit cold but it is the best time because there is not much rush for rooms, temples, and other climate dangers like landslides or heavy rainfalls. With beautiful mountains, chantings and spiritual energy, it is an excellent experience for any human to be here.
Things To Remember While Travelling To Badrinath In October
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Badrinath Temple is one of the temples in Char Dham yatra, i.e. a tour of four temples in Uttarakhand. Thousands of devotees visit these places. Lord Vishnu, in the avatar of Badrinarayana, resided in the temple. The temple is located nearly 3,100 metres high on the Garhwal Himalayas. Adi Shankaracharya established the temple in the 8th century. The temple is present on the banks of the river Alakananda. The temple is only open from May to October. For the rest of the month, the temple is completely covered in snow, which is highly prohibited from entering. The temple is mostly not that rushed with people because, in October, it is prepared to close down.
While travelling to Badrinath in October, visitors must carry extra clothes to layer up and warm themselves. Primary transport is available till Rishikesh. After reaching Rishikesh, it is best advised to take local transport that is experienced between those high roads to climb the hill. The mountains are all lush green in October, giving visitors a mesmerising view. There are different poojas conducted in the temple. The temple is open for exceptional pooja candidates from 4:30 am. For regular visitors, it is open from 7 am – 1 pm. A break of 3 hours is taken, and the temple again opens at 4 pm – 9 pm. Visitors should check temple opening and closing months before booking tickets because sometimes the climate conditions may vary, causing delays in opening or preponing the temple. Compulsory prior permits and bookings should be taken care of.
Must Read: Places To Visit In Badrinath
Places To Visit Near Badrinath In October
Here are a few places to explore while travelling to Badrinath in October to help you have a safe and memorable trip.
1. Vasudhara Falls
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Vasudhara is one of the most beautiful waterfalls, and it has a very holy meaning. It is believed that Lord Vishnu, in the form of a river, flows here, and the division of Vedas in Hinduism done by Vedavyas Sharma has happened here. The waterfalls flow towards the Alakananda River, which flows towards the Badrinath Temple. The waterfalls are available to visit from May – October. Interestingly, it is also said that when a person who has committed many sins stands in front of the waterfalls, the water goes back. So, many Hindu devotees visit these waterfalls and drench in them to prove their purity.
An easy trek from Mana village for about three hours can reach you to these waterfalls. The trek is lovely, with a foggy and breezy climate throughout the year, which marks an unforgettable nature experience for the tourists. It is also believed that when the water from it falls on a person, due to many herbs and medicinal properties present throughout the flow of the waterfalls from the mountains, it is considered very healthy. People visit these waterfalls, collect their water, and use it to perform many holy Hindu practices.
How to reach it: Take a 3-km drive from Badrinath to Mana village.
Timings: Open 24 hours
2. Brahma Kapal
Brahma Kapal is a very sacred place for Hindus and is located in Badrinath, Uttarakhand. People come here to pay their respects to the deceased by performing last rites. Lord Brahma is believed to reside here, and whoever performs the last rites here does not have another lifetime, i.e., their birth and death cycle ends. People come here to pay their respects by holding yearly death rites and various traditions for the deceased. Brahma Kapal is a very sacred place where all Hindus come to seek blessings from their ancestors and free them by performing rites. People also donate various things to people living there to seek blessings from God.
It is also believed that Lord Shiva when killed Lord Brahma, his head fell in this place, hence the name kapala, which means skull, came in. This place is open throughout the year and is very near the Alaknanda River. A short trek from the river leads you to this place. People also take a dip in the river even though it is so cold because it is believed to wash away all the sins done by that person and seek blessings.
How to reach: walk along the banks of the Alaknanda River
Timings: Open 24 hours
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Uttarakhand In Summer
3. Neelkanth Peak
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Neelkanth Peak is the highest point of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It is situated over the river Alakananda, over 6,596 metres. The beauty of this peak is beyond words, which can only be experienced by visiting it. The best time to start trekking Neelkanth Peak is from June to September. The trek can be started from Charana Paduka base camp in Badrinath. The trek’s journey is very steep because of the mountain’s pyramid shape. So, people should take measures beforehand and plan the trek with prior booking with experts because it is a bit challenging.
This peak is also known as Garhwal Queen because of its exceptional beauty with mountains covered with snow and being the topmost, giving a beautiful view of all the mountains around which is unforgettable for a lifetime for the visitors. People from all over come here and invest their time in trekking and experiencing this beauty.
How to reach: take a taxi to ride about 9 km from Badrinath
Timings: trek for about 4 to 5 hours
4. Vyas Guha
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Vyas Guha located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, is an ancient cave where sage Vyas and Lord Ganesh wrote Mahabharata. It is believed that sage Vyas narrated the Mahabharata and Lord Ganesh wrote it in this cave along with reciting all the Puranas, Vedas and Brahma sutras. Many people visit this place to worship the statue inside the small cave and look through the ancient papers collected. This cave is located on the banks of the Saraswati River.
The cave is located between the mountains which are very beautiful to look at and the history of the cave raises a sense of knowledge within the tourists. A trek from Mana village leads to this cave, which is challenging because of its slippery roads. There is also the option of using roadways with the help of local travellers. This place is very sacred to Hindus and holds a sense of spirituality because of its sacred texts written and it is also believed that the holy rivers and temples of Uttarakhand are to be originated from here.
How to reach: the nearest railway station is Haridwar, or drive from Badrinath to Mana village
Timings: Open 24 hours
Suggested Read: Monuments In Uttarakhand
5. Bheem Pul
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Bheem Pul located over the river Saraswati, in Mana village, Uttarakhand is also a border to Tibet. This river also flows through the Alakananda River connecting to Badrinath temple with extreme force. It is believed that this was the last place of Pandavas where they went to heaven from here. When Draupadi couldn’t cross the Saraswati River, Bheema placed a huge rock over the river forming a bridge to walk on. It is also the last stop in India.
Many people visit this place to experience the mesmerising beauty of the river surrounded by mountains. It is still believed that there is a way to heaven from this place and people pay their respects to Pandavas here.
How to reach: 3 km from Badrinath to Mana village
Timings: Open 24 hours
Further Read: Uttarakhand In March
Now that you have a list of things to keep in mind to have a spiritual and beautiful trip to Badrinath, especially in October, plan accordingly with prior booking and thorough research about Badrinath in October and the nearby places in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Badrinath In October
What clothing is preferred during a trip to Badrinath in October?
It is recommended to wear thick jackets, sweaters and caps to protect yourself from cool air as it is very cold most of the time.
Is trekking to Badrinath difficult?
Trekking to Badrinath is not very difficult compared to other places because it is considered to be an easy walk.
When is the best time to visit Badrinath with less population?
The best time to visit is in October because, after this month the temple gets completely closed as it will be reaching the peak of winter.
Is there any room accommodation available near the temple?
There are many ashrams that provide rooms and dormitories with all the amenities for the tourists.
How many days does it take to explore Badrinath?
It takes nearly 2 - 3 days to explore Badrinath temple and nearby places except if you are going on long treks.
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