Charanpaduka is a beautiful rock, which holds the foot prints of Lord Vishnu. An elevated site at a height of 3380 feet, this place beholds enchanting beauty and serenity. Though the uphill path is quite a risky and arduous one, the scenic ambiance and the holy darshan of the Lord footprints would retrieve all the ailments and troubles from the devotees.
A holy site from where Adi Sankara recovered the idol of lord Vishnu, Narad Kund is one of the most revered centers in Badrinath. It is a recess in the Alakananda river and is naturally sheltered by a rock with projecting angles. This prevents the flow of the water current and provides suitable surroundings for a nice bath. Water in Narada Kund is so hot that it would not be advisable to take long baths in the pond.
As per Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu takes his retreat on a snake by name Anantha Shesha, and a visit to Sheshnetra reminds this mythical belief to the minds of the devotees. A large stone that is marked with one eye of this legendary snake Sheshnetra is one among the remarkable holy sites in Badrinath. The most amazing part of this sacred site is that the imprints on the rock are natural. It is believed that Sheshnetra guards the holy shrine of lord Badrinath.
25 kilometres from Badrinath is a tri cornered lake, Satopanth. Satopanth Lake is a triangular lake of serene water has a perimeter of about half a kilometer. It is named after Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh who are said to occupy one corner of the lake each. It is an arduous trek but the landscape is splendid. At the very holy Satopanth Lake (4402m), the divine trinity (Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu) are believed to be meditating at the three corners of this triangular lake. The trek is hazardous, but full of dramatic scenery. There is no place to rest between, except caves.
On the banks of the river Alaknanda are hot thermal springs. The sulphurous waters from these hot springs is said to have medicinal value. The devotees who come to the Badrinath temple dip themselves in the “Tapt kund” before entering the temple. The waters are about 55 degrees Celsius and a dip in these hot waters is considered spiritually rejuvenating.
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A natural spring that possesses therapeutic characteristics Tapt Kund is believed to be the holy abode of Lord Agni. Pilgrims believe that a holy dip in this sacred pond relieves them from their sinful deeds and thought.
The main attraction to the town is the Badrinath temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu or Badrinath and is shaped in the form of a cone. The town was first regarded as a pilgrimage site by a saint, Adi Guru Shankaracharya, in the 8th century. It is believed that Adi Guru Shankaracharya discovered the image of Lord Vishnu on the banks of Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the hot springs of this area. Later, the King of Garhwal moved the idol to the present temple. This temple has a colourful Singh Dwara or the main entrance gate. The temple has been through a number of renovations due to its age and damages caused by avalanches.
The temple is composed of three distinct parts:
• Garbha Griha or the sanctum.
It is one of the five badri shrines in the region. Bhavishya Badri is worshipped here at three kilometres from Tapovan. It is an on foot journey, in the middle of the dense deodar forest to the shrine of Bhavishya Badri. It is said that there will be a time in future when the shrine of Badrinath will get inaccessible because of the harsh climate, the snow, then Bhavishya Badri will be worshipped as the shrine of Badrinath, Bhavishya meaning future.
This is another 12 kilometres from Joshimath and 10 kilometers from village Helang. There is a cave by the name of Kalpeshwar here in this beautiful valley which people come to visit.
Chitai temple is located 3km from the cantonment area in Almora. The temple is dedicated to Golu Devta who is considered to be the God of Justice. At the temple there are several bells hanging in the premises. These bells are hung by devotees as offerings when they make a wish or if their prayers are answered. The locals of the region have deep faith in this temple and visit it often.
A landmark in Almora, Chitai Temple has the presiding deity Lord Shiva, who is referred here by the name Lord Gollu. Local folks have much faith in this hilltop temple, they often visit here with offerings. The history says the temple was constructed by a general belonging to the Chand dynasty.
Near Kalimutt is the temple of Kasar Devi. This ancient temple was built on a mountain peak in the second century. The distance between Kalimatt and Kasar Devi is less than 1 km and can be easily covered by foot. The surrounding area has become the home of many foreigners. The main town is 6 km away.
