Shri Badarinath Dham, Badrinath, Uttarakhand 246422

The history of Badrinath Temple dates back many centuries. According to tradition, Lord Vishnu meditated at this sacred site while Goddess Lakshmi protected him in the form of a Badri (berry) tree, giving the place its name Badrinath — "Lord of the Berry Forest." Adi Shankaracharya is widely believed to have rediscovered the sacred idol of Lord Badrinarayan in the 8th century CE and established the temple as a major centre of Vaishnavism. The shrine has been renovated several times over the centuries after natural disasters, avalanches, and earthquakes. Today it is managed by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.

Badrinath is one of India's Char Dham pilgrimage sites, alongside Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, and Rameswaram, and one of Uttarakhand's Chota Char Dham shrines. It is counted among the 108 Divya Desams, making it especially significant for Sri Vaishnavism. A holy dip in nearby Tapt Kund before darshan is traditionally considered spiritually purifying.

The presiding deity is Lord Badri Narayan (Lord Vishnu), represented by a black stone idol in meditative posture. Other deities in the complex include Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera, Narada, Garuda, Nar and Narayan, Uddhava, and Adi Shankaracharya. The temple showcases traditional North Indian Himalayan architecture with a colourful façade, gold-gilded roof, and stone-built sanctum. It comprises the Garbha Griha, Darshan Mandap, and Sabha Mandap, housing an approximately 1-metre-tall black stone idol of Lord Badri Narayan.

The idol is believed to be made of Shaligram stone. Due to harsh Himalayan winters, the temple closes annually and ceremonial worship continues at Narsingh Temple in Joshimath until Badrinath reopens.