Extreme weather conditions on the road to Badrinath Temple
Cradled in the Nar-Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath is one of the most important religious places in India. Located in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India, the temple sits at an elevation of 3.133m (10,279ft) above the sea level.
The road to the temple, located on the right bank of Alaknanda, is mostly paved, but includes some dust/gravel sections. It is open for six months every year, between the end of April and the beginning of November, because of extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region. The road is very narrow and includes several steep sections (over 15%).
The road is called National Highway 58 (Badrinath Road). It’s especially crowded during the summer pilgrimage season. The road connects Delhi with Mana Pass in Uttarakhand near Indo-Tibet border. The temple, also known as Badrinarayan Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. Built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya - the philosopher-saint of the 8th century, the temple has been renovated several times due to damage by avalanches.
Pic: Amit khangwal.Flute