Panch Badri

The five Badries are revered by all as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is devoted to the worship of Vishnu who, according to an amusing tale, usurped this place from Shiva. For Vishnu had come here as the gods once did, to offer penance. He loved the place so much that he plotted to unseat Shiva from his meditation here. He took on the form of a beautiful child and began to wail. Shiva's wife, Parvati picked him up but could not calm the child. Since his wailing continued to disturb Shiva, he shifted to Kedarnath in exasperation, leaving the spot free for Vishnu to occupy. But remainders of Shiva's stay continue to linger, most visibly in the name, badri, a kind of berry that Shiva was most fond of, and the gigantic tree, invisible to the morale eye, that served Shiva. Considered one of the Char Dgam or four principle places of Hindu worship at himalayas, Badrinath's four subsidiary badries include Bhavishya Badri, Yogdhyan Badri, Vridha Badri and Adi Badri.

Badri Vishal
Main shrine of Lord Badrinath ji is known as 'Badrinath'.

Bhavishya Badri
(2744 m). The shrine is 19 km away from Joshimath, which is supposed to be an alternative seat of Lord Badrinath ji, if for some unknown reason, 'Badrinath' shrine disappears. An image of God 'Narsing' is kept here, which is worshipped by the devotees coming from Tapovan Dhauliganga side. Pilgrims have to trek for 6 km to reach the shrine.

Yogdhyan Badri
1920 m). The shrine is 23 km short of Badrinath shrine, located at Pandukeshwar. It is here that King Pandu is believed to have meditated after the victory over the 'Kauravas' and before leaving for his heavenly abode.

Vridha Badri
(1380 m). This is the first holy place of Lord Badrinath ji located at Animath. Animath is 8 km short of Joshimath approachable by motorable road. Before Badrinath was designated one of the four 'Dhams' of Hindus by Adi-Shankaracharaya, the idol of Badrinath ji was woshipped here. Vridha Badri remains open throughout the year.

Adi-Badri
Adi-Badri is 19 km away from Karanprayag, on the Chaukuthia Ranikhet road, where a group of 16 temples dating back to the Gupta age, are in existence. These temples were made with the idol of lord Vishnu to spread Hinduism to every remote comer in the country by Adi-Shankaracharya.