What else can you Find here?
Narad Kund is a recess in the bed of the Alakananda River which forms a pool and is close to the Tapta Kund. It is sheltered by a projecting rock which breaks the force of the river and allows people to bathe in it. Adi Shankaracharya knew this by his great powers and retrieved the idol from this pool. He is the one who has laid down the rules by which the Lord is to be worshipped. He decreed that the Rawal or chief priest of the temple should come from the state of Kerala, far down south. He also decreed that the chief priest of the temple of Rameswaram in the south, should be from the state of Garhwal. Thus he ensured that there was a good interchange between the north and south of this holy land. This tradition is followed to this day and the Rawal of Badrinath is always a Namboodiri Brahmin from Kerala, the land of Adi Shankara’s birth.
A short distance below the temple is the hot water pool known as Tapta Kund, fed by a sulfur spring which is said to be the abode of Agni, the god of fire. This water has a temperature of 130 degrees. To the left of this pool is the Surya Kund fed by a branch of the same thermal spring. These waters are said to be very nourishing to the body. The Alakananda flows swiftly just below these kunds and the boiling water falls into the icy waters of the river giving rise to clouds of steam.
To the north of the temple is the spot known as Brahma Kapal where Lord Brahma is said to reside. Ceremonies for departed souls are performed here. To the west of the temple between the gaps of two mountains soars the magnificent peak of Neelkanth. It towers to a height of 21,650 feet. This was acclaimed to be the virgin queen of the central Himalayas and defied seven attempts by famous mountaineers from all over the world to conquer it. Sir Edmund Hillary was a member of the New Zealand team which failed. At last a school teacher from Rajasthan called O.P. Sharma, who was a great devotee of the Lord, accompanied by two sherpas (Nepalese mountain tribe), succeeded in conquering it. This peak has been described as the most beautiful, the most difficult and most elusive peak in the central Himalayas. It is a perfect cone and is visible only in the early morning when it is dramatically lit up by the morning sun which spotlights it.
Two miles to the west of Badrinath towards the foothills of the Neelkanth there is a large green meadow where the foot-print of Lord Narayana is seen to be engraved on a huge rock. This is known as Charan Paduka. This meadow is dotted with flowers in August and offers an entrancing sight.
One mile from Badrinath on the opposite bank of the river is Shesh Netra where the eye of the serpent Shesha on which Lord Vishnu reclines, is seen on a rock.
Shesh Netra
There are many important places to visit around Badrinath. The place is replete with tales of the Pandavas who are said to have taken this route via Badrinath on their way to Heaven. From the temple a bridle path goes to the village of Mana which is the last village on the Indian side. From this village one path leads along the river known a Saraswati to Kailas and Manasarovar in western Tibet. This is a route which is taken only by great yogis since it is fraught with difficulties. The Saraswati joins the Alakananda at Mana at the place known as Keshava Prayag. Vyasa Gupha or the cave of Vyasa as well as Ganesha Gupha, the cave of Ganesha, is found here. If we keep going we reach a natural causeway across the Saraswati River formed by a massive mountain rock. This is known as Bhim phul. When the Pandavas came here, the second brother known as Bhima is supposed to have thrown this boulder across the river so that his brothers could cross the river with ease.
The Vasudhara falls is only three miles from here but due to the rarefied atmosphere the going is difficult. These falls are over four hundred feet high and are at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The wind is so strong that someone standing just under the falls will not get wet. It is said that only the pure will feel the waters sprinkling over them.
Five miles from Vasudhara is the place known as Alakapuri which is the source of the Alakananda.
Here the river gushes out from between two glaciers, Bhagirath Kharak and Satopantha.
Satopantha Lake is at a height of 14,400 feet and is at a distance of 15 miles from Badrinath and five miles from Alakapuri. It is a glacial lake three quarters of a mile in circumference bordered by clumps of bushes. Celestial beings like Apsaras and Gandharvas are supposed to sport in its icy waters. A number of glaciers encircle the lake. It is a mystic place filled with incredible charm and beauty. Only very hardy pilgrims are able to reach this. Some yogis do live on its shores. The journey to this lake takes about three days and can be done only between June and September. Every article of food and accommodation has to be taken.
There are some caves in which yogis live.
A short distance below the temple is the hot water pool known as Tapta Kund, fed by a sulfur spring which is said to be the abode of Agni, the god of fire. This water has a temperature of 130 degrees. To the left of this pool is the Surya Kund fed by a branch of the same thermal spring. These waters are said to be very nourishing to the body. The Alakananda flows swiftly just below these kunds and the boiling water falls into the icy waters of the river giving rise to clouds of steam.
To the north of the temple is the spot known as Brahma Kapal where Lord Brahma is said to reside. Ceremonies for departed souls are performed here. To the west of the temple between the gaps of two mountains soars the magnificent peak of Neelkanth. It towers to a height of 21,650 feet. This was acclaimed to be the virgin queen of the central Himalayas and defied seven attempts by famous mountaineers from all over the world to conquer it. Sir Edmund Hillary was a member of the New Zealand team which failed. At last a school teacher from Rajasthan called O.P. Sharma, who was a great devotee of the Lord, accompanied by two sherpas (Nepalese mountain tribe), succeeded in conquering it. This peak has been described as the most beautiful, the most difficult and most elusive peak in the central Himalayas. It is a perfect cone and is visible only in the early morning when it is dramatically lit up by the morning sun which spotlights it.
Two miles to the west of Badrinath towards the foothills of the Neelkanth there is a large green meadow where the foot-print of Lord Narayana is seen to be engraved on a huge rock. This is known as Charan Paduka. This meadow is dotted with flowers in August and offers an entrancing sight.
One mile from Badrinath on the opposite bank of the river is Shesh Netra where the eye of the serpent Shesha on which Lord Vishnu reclines, is seen on a rock.
Shesh Netra
There are many important places to visit around Badrinath. The place is replete with tales of the Pandavas who are said to have taken this route via Badrinath on their way to Heaven. From the temple a bridle path goes to the village of Mana which is the last village on the Indian side. From this village one path leads along the river known a Saraswati to Kailas and Manasarovar in western Tibet. This is a route which is taken only by great yogis since it is fraught with difficulties. The Saraswati joins the Alakananda at Mana at the place known as Keshava Prayag. Vyasa Gupha or the cave of Vyasa as well as Ganesha Gupha, the cave of Ganesha, is found here. If we keep going we reach a natural causeway across the Saraswati River formed by a massive mountain rock. This is known as Bhim phul. When the Pandavas came here, the second brother known as Bhima is supposed to have thrown this boulder across the river so that his brothers could cross the river with ease.
The Vasudhara falls is only three miles from here but due to the rarefied atmosphere the going is difficult. These falls are over four hundred feet high and are at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The wind is so strong that someone standing just under the falls will not get wet. It is said that only the pure will feel the waters sprinkling over them.
Five miles from Vasudhara is the place known as Alakapuri which is the source of the Alakananda.
Here the river gushes out from between two glaciers, Bhagirath Kharak and Satopantha.
Satopantha Lake is at a height of 14,400 feet and is at a distance of 15 miles from Badrinath and five miles from Alakapuri. It is a glacial lake three quarters of a mile in circumference bordered by clumps of bushes. Celestial beings like Apsaras and Gandharvas are supposed to sport in its icy waters. A number of glaciers encircle the lake. It is a mystic place filled with incredible charm and beauty. Only very hardy pilgrims are able to reach this. Some yogis do live on its shores. The journey to this lake takes about three days and can be done only between June and September. Every article of food and accommodation has to be taken.
There are some caves in which yogis live.
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