Located on the Alaknanda River about 8½ hours east of Kedarnath, this town is about four times Kedarnath´s size and is home to the largest temple of the four Char Dham Yatra towns, dedicated to Vishnu (badri refers to an edible berry that grows in this area and nath refers to Lord Vishnu). Though to be a Buddhist temple converted to Hinduism in the 8th century, Badrinath Temple is divided into three parts: the Garbha Griha (main shrine area), which features 15 idols, including a one-meter-tall black-stone image of Vishnu; the Darshan Mandap, where devotional rituals called pujas are conducted; and the Sabha Mandap, where devotees can spend time praying and reflecting. Just below the temple is a series of hot sulphur springs thought to be medicinal, and in which many pilgrims bathe before visiting the temple.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Tour My India´s post One of India´s Greatest Pilgrimage: Uttarakhand State´s Chota Char Dham Yatra.