Badrinath is situated near river Alakananda in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand and is one of the four sites of Chota Char Dhams. One of the most sought after pilgrim sites, Badrinath is also a famous tourist spot. Set in the back ground of Neelkanth mountain peak, the place is truly majestic. The word Badrinath is derived from the sacred Badrinath Temple, which the tourists visit to pay their tributes.
Located in the heart of the Himalayas, Badrinath plays host to millions of pilgrims every year. However, religious attraction is not the only attraction that it boasts of. The natural beauty surrounding Badrinath is such, that a large number of tourists visit the spot just to enjoy its beauty. It is the meeting point of the rivers Rishiganga and Alakananda and is girdled on both sides by the Nara and Narayana mountain ranges. The snowcapped Nilkantha peak can be seen from the spot and sunlight playing on the snow creates a beautiful sight. Badrinath has an average elevation of 3,100 meters (over 10,000 feet) above sea level and has moderate snow for most of the year. However, winters here are completely white and the valley is layered with snow.
It is believed that the saint, Adi Shankarcharya had actually established the black stone idol of Lord Vishnu which is self-manifested statues of Vishnu at Badrinath.
