Badrinath
Set at 3,133 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas at the meeting point of the Alaknanda and Rishi Ganga rivers, the Badrinath Temple is one of the four sacred Char Dhams and one of the most important Vishnu shrines in Hinduism. The black stone idol of Badri Vishal sits beneath a gold roof, surrounded by peaks that rise above 7,000 metres, and the combination of high-altitude cold air, Himalayan grandeur, and intense devotional energy makes darshan here a deeply exceptional spiritual experience.
Acclimatise for at least a day at Joshimath (1,800m) before proceeding to Badrinath (3,133m) to avoid altitude sickness. Carry warm layers even in summer — the temperature drops sharply at dawn and evening.