Overview
Badrinath sits at 30.7433°N, 79.4938°E at 3,133 m in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The temple is on the left bank of the Alaknanda river at the confluence with the Saraswati stream, with the Neelkanth peak (6,596 m) towering behind. A paved motor road (NH-58) connects Badrinath to the rest of India — the only Char Dham with no trekking required.
| Location | GPS Coordinates | Altitude | Distance from Badrinath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badrinath Temple | 30.7433°N, 79.4938°E | 3,133 m | — |
| Tapt Kund | 30.7445°N, 79.4920°E | 3,100 m | 100 m (steps below temple) |
| Brahma Kapal | 30.7460°N, 79.4890°E | 3,110 m | 800 m NW |
| Mana Village | 30.7616°N, 79.5150°E | 3,219 m | 3 km NE |
| Neelkanth Peak | 30.7717°N, 79.5317°E | 6,596 m | 5 km NE |
| Govindghat | 30.5817°N, 79.5800°E | 1,828 m | 17 km S |
| Joshimath | 30.5561°N, 79.5645°E | 1,890 m | 50 km S |
| Rudraprayag | 30.2845°N, 78.9806°E | 895 m | 135 km SW |
| Rishikesh | 30.0869°N, 78.2676°E | 372 m | 295 km SW |
Planning
Badrinath on Google Maps:
Search "Badrinath Temple" in Google Maps — it pinpoints the exact temple location with reviews, photos and turn-by-turn directions via NH-58. The Google Maps route from Rishikesh to Badrinath (295 km) is accurate and matches actual road conditions. Offline map download recommended before leaving Joshimath as mobile data is unreliable between Joshimath and Badrinath during monsoon.
Key landmarks around Badrinath temple:
- Tapt Kund: The sacred hot spring (45°C) is 100 m below the temple steps on the Alaknanda bank. GPS: 30.7445°N, 79.4920°E. Pilgrims bathe here before darshan.
- Brahma Kapal: Flat rock platform on the Alaknanda bank, 800 m northwest. GPS: 30.7460°N, 79.4890°E. Sacred site for pind daan (ancestor rites). See Brahma Kapal guide.
- Mana Village: 3 km northeast of Badrinath on an unpaved road. GPS: 30.7616°N, 79.5150°E. India's last village before the Tibet border. Saraswati river cave, Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul. See Mana Village guide.
- Satopanth Lake trekbase: The trek to Satopanth Lake (3,810 m, 24 km one-way) starts 3 km past Mana Village. Base camp coordinates: ~30.8000°N, 79.5500°E. An advanced Himalayan trek — only for experienced trekkers with permits.
Badrinath district and regional context:
Badrinath falls in Chamoli district, which is one of the most remote districts in Uttarakhand bordering Tibet/China. The Badrinath valley (Alaknanda upper valley) is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The valley is bounded by major peaks: Neelkanth (6,596 m) to the northeast, Nilgiri Parbat (6,474 m) to the north and the Chaukhamba massif (7,138 m) to the south. The entire setting — white peaks, the colourful temple, the turquoise Alaknanda — makes Badrinath one of the most visually dramatic pilgrimage sites in Asia.
Travel Tips
- Download offline maps before leaving Joshimath: Mobile data (Jio, BSNL, Vi) works reasonably well in Joshimath but becomes unreliable between Joshimath and Badrinath, especially in monsoon. Download Google Maps offline for the Badrinath area before leaving Joshimath.
- Mana Village road: The 3 km road from Badrinath to Mana Village is narrow, unpaved and one-lane. Auto-rickshaws and small SUVs navigate it — large buses cannot. Ask your taxi driver to wait at Badrinath while you visit Mana Village (3 km, 30–45 min round trip on foot or ₹150–₹200 by local auto).
- ITBP check post at Mana: ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) has a check post at Mana Village. Indian citizens can proceed freely. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to enter this Inner Line zone — obtain in advance from district magistrate offices in Chamoli or Joshimath.
- Compass direction for photography: The Badrinath temple faces southeast. Morning light (6:00–10:00 AM) falls directly on the colourful facade. The Neelkanth peak (northeast, behind the temple) is best photographed in evening alpenglow (4:00–6:00 PM in September–October).
Accommodation
- Joshimath (50 km south, recommended base): The closest town with good hotel infrastructure to Badrinath. GPS: 30.5561°N, 79.5645°E. See hotels guide.
- Badrinath town hotels: The small cluster of guesthouses and dharamshalas is within 200–300 m of the temple. GMVN Tourist Rest House (GPS: near 30.7450°N, 79.4950°E) is the main GMVN property. See budget hotels.
- Govindghat: 17 km south, GPS 30.5817°N, 79.5800°E. Budget base for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib treks. Several GMVN and private guesthouses (₹500–₹1,200).
FAQs
- What are the GPS coordinates of Badrinath?
- 30.7433°N, 79.4938°E — altitude 3,133 m, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Enter "Badrinath Temple" in Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation via NH-58. Download offline maps before leaving Joshimath.
- Where is Badrinath located?
- Left bank of the Alaknanda river, Chamoli district, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. 295 km from Rishikesh, 50 km from Joshimath. 24 km from the India–Tibet border. Neelkanth peak (6,596 m) rises behind the temple. Paved motor road (NH-58) reaches all the way to the temple.
- How far is Badrinath from Kedarnath?
- ~250 km by road via Rudraprayag (5–7 hrs). No direct road — must return to Rudraprayag junction and travel up the Mandakini valley. Aerial distance ~40 km. Char Dham sequence: Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath.