One day in Badrinath — Tapt Kund, the temple and Mana
A first day at Badrinath. The morning starts at the hot springs of Tapt Kund and goes up to the Badrinath Temple before the queue grows. In the late morning drive 7 minutes on to Mana, the last village on the road, for Vyas Gufa and Bheem Pul. The Vasudhara walk needs a day of its own, and the two-day plan adds Pandukeshwar. See also when to visit and how to reach Badrinath.
Photos: Bahuln89 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Yoginipatil (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Geet Arts (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Pilgrims and first-time visitors with one full day in Badrinath, between the temple's opening in late April and its closing in early November.
Day by day
Day 1The temple in the morning, Mana in the afternoon
6 stops · 25 min on the road
The temple in the morning, Mana in the afternoon
The shrine early, then the last village on the road, its caves and its bridge.
- 07:00Tapt KundThe hot springs under the temple, at about 55 °C all year; many pilgrims bathe here before going up.
- ↓ a short walk07:45Badrinath TempleThe Char Dham shrine itself. Carry your yatra registration and an identity card, and expect a queue in the busy weeks.
- ↓ 5 min by road · 3 km11:00Mata Murti TempleThe temple to the mother of Nar and Narayan, at the edge of Mana; a fair is held here each August.
- 11:45ManaThe last village before the Mana Pass. Cars stop at the edge; walk up through the lanes.
- ↓ 16 min by road · 8 km13:30Vyas GufaThe cave where, by tradition, Vyasa lived while composing the Vedas. A short walk up from the village lanes.
- ↓ 3 min by road · 1 km14:00Bheem PulThe rock lying across the Saraswati, said to have been thrown there by Bhima so Draupadi could cross.
Getting there
Badrinath is about 291 km by road from Rishikesh and 43 km from Joshimath. Register for the yatra on the Uttarakhand portal before you travel. See the hub guide for the full arrival table.
Where to stay
Badrinath is the base; the temple is in the town and Mana is 7 minutes up the road.
Know before you go
- The temple is open only from late April to early November, and the dates are set each year; check the temple committee's site.
- Wikipedia notes that proof of identity is required to enter the temple; carry an ID card and your yatra registration.
- The lanes and steps at Mana are uneven; wear shoes with grip.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Badrinath itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Badrinath →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Can you see Badrinath in one day?
The temple, Tapt Kund and Mana fit in one day: the temple is in the town and Mana is about 7 minutes up the road. The walk to Vasudhara Falls does not fit as well, since Wikipedia calls it a three-hour trek from Mana each way, so give it a separate day.
When should you go to the temple?
Early in the morning, after a dip at Tapt Kund if you want one. Wikipedia records 2.8 million visits in two months of 2022 and only 10 to 20 seconds before the deity for each devotee, so the queue can be long later in the day. The temple is open from late April to early November.
What do you need to carry?
Your yatra registration from the Uttarakhand portal and an identity card, which Wikipedia notes is required at the temple. Add a warm layer, because Badrinath sits at about 3,100 m and is cool even in June, and shoes with grip for the lanes at Mana.