Attraction
The last village before the Tibet border, three kilometres on from the temple and one of the highest inhabited places in India. There is a cave attributed to Vyasa and a tea shop that bills itself as the last in the country.
Attractions in Badrinath
4 places to see, with what each one is and how long it takes.
Attraction
A sulphur hot spring in the temple courtyard, hot enough to need care, where pilgrims bathe before darshan. Separate areas for men and women.
Attraction
A fall of over a hundred metres, a few kilometres past Mana on foot. Local belief holds the water swerves away from anyone impure, which is a good story for a fall the wind blows sideways.
Attraction
A rock three kilometres above the temple carrying what pilgrims hold to be Vishnu's footprint. Steep, and at this altitude harder than the distance suggests.
Elsewhere in Uttarakhand
Not in Badrinath — these are in other towns across the state.
Viewpoint
The famous viewpoint ridge above Kasar Devi, lined with cafes and known for sweeping Himalayan panoramas.
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Attraction
The valley shares Ghangaria as a base with Hemkund, and the two are the standard pair. Day entry only, no camping inside, and the flowers peak in late July and August.
Attraction
A boiling spring beside the temple, hot enough that pilgrims lower rice and potatoes into it in cloth bundles and carry them home as prasad. That is the thing to stand and watch.
Attraction
The highest Shiva temple in the world at around 3,680 metres, and the third of the Panch Kedar. Three and a half kilometres of paved but steep path up from Chopta. Shuts for winter around November.
Experience
A scenic organic tea garden where visitors can walk the rows and buy fresh Kumaon tea.
Attraction
Fifteen kilometres out, and the most crowded thing in the district — the fall now sits inside a ring of ropeways, stalls and concrete steps. Come very early or skip it.
Attraction
Valley of Flowers National Park
Six kilometres above Ghangaria on the other fork, at about 4,600 metres. Most people do the valley one day and Hemkund the next rather than both at once.
Experience
The park's most prized core zone for tiger and elephant sightings.
Viewpoint
The confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda that forms the Ganga.
Attraction
A slab of rock beside the temple where Bhagirath is said to have sat to bring the Ganga down. A minute from the main shrine.
Attraction
The ancient stone Jyotirlinga temple of Lord Shiva amid snow peaks.
Attraction
On Bilwa Parvat above the town, three kilometres up by ropeway or on foot. Pilgrims tie a thread here and come back to untie it if the wish is granted.
Attraction
The summit above Tungnath at about 4,000 metres, another kilometre and a half past the temple. On a clear morning you see Nanda Devi, Trisul and Chaukhamba from it. Start in the dark for sunrise.
Attraction
The highest point in Mussoorie, up in Landour, five kilometres from the Mall. A telescope on a platform, and on a clear morning a line of peaks. Afternoon haze usually closes it down.
Attraction
Valley of Flowers National Park
The base for both the valley and Hemkund, three and a half kilometres below the park gate. A row of lodges and a gurudwara, no road in, and empty through winter.