Badrinath or Badrikashram

While Badrikashram is mentioned in the Bhagwat Puran, the history of the Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is vague and varied. Adi Shankar is said to have established the temple, perhaps converting a Buddhist shrine. He is said to have discovered the black Shaligram idol in Alaknanda river and established it near the Tapt Kund. 

The township of Badrinath

In the 16th century, the King of Garhwal moved the idol to the present temple which has gone through several renovations. The temple is one of the four Char Dhams in India as also one of the four Chota Char Dham yatras of Uttrakhand, the others being Kedarnath (which incidentally is visited before Badrinath), Gangotri and Yamunotri. 

The black stone idol of Vishnu is is considered to be one of the 8 swayam vyakta kshetras or self-manifested statues of Vishnu. Here he is worshipped sitting in a meditative pose surrounded by idols of Nar, Narayan, Narad, Uddhav, Garud and Kuber. Just below the temple, there is a natural thermal spring and a dip therein is taken before visiting the shrine. The main gate of the shrine is painted with myriad colours. The present structure is the result of several restorations the temple has undergone due to damages caused by avalanches and earthquakes.

The Badrinath area also referred to as Badrikashram (बदरिकाश्रम) is sacred to Vishnu, particularly in his dual form of Nar-Narayan, the twin sons of Dharm who setup their hermitage here, in the spot blessed with cold and hot springs behind river Alaknanda.
As per one legend, Vishnu performed penance at this place and during his deep meditation, he was unaware of the harsh weather. Lakshmi turned into a Badri tree and protected him. Pleased by her efforts, he named the place Badrikashram.

Alaknanda which flows past the sacred Badrinath Temple, is one of the two headstreams of the Ganga providing the larger discharge, the other being Bhagirathi.

It is also said that the Pandavs climbed via 'Swargarohini, (the ascent to heaven, and Mana town, north of Badrinath while on their route to heaven.

Neelkanth Peak, named after Shiv, sets a great background to the Badrinath shrine, and is beautiful when its snow-covered peak receives the first rays of the Sun at the crack of dawn. Himalaya is also called Ashtapad because of its eight different mountain range Gaurishankar, Kailash, Badrinath, Nanda, Drongiri, Narayan, Nar and Trishuli.

This place is considered holy in Jainism as well. In Jainism, Rishabhanatha / Rishabhdev attained Nirvana on Mount Kailash situated in the Himalayan range and according to Jain faith (Nirvankand), Rishabhanatha is the legendary first Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of Jainism. From Badrinath, numerous Jain Munis attained Moksh by doing Tapsya. According to Shrimadbhagwat, at this place Rishabhdev's father Nabhirai and mother Marudevi had done hard Tap after Rishabhdev's Rajyabhishek and taken Samadhi. Even today, the footprint of Nabhirai at Neelkanth mountain attracts people.