Vasudhara Falls is a waterfall near Badrinath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, perched at an altitude of 12,000 feet on the banks of river Alaknanda surrounded by beautiful Himalayan mountain peaks. The water of this holy waterfall flows down from the height of 400 feet (122 metres). These falls are located on the way from where the Pandavas started their journey to Heaven. People believe that only those who are clean, pure and untainted by guilt can enjoy the heavenly beauty of Vasudhara Falls. The trek to Vasudhara falls starts from Mana Village, Badrinath, Uttarakhand.
This rewarding trek starts from Mana village and passes by the Saraswati temple. Since there are no shops along the way, you should bring water bottles and some snacks to replenish your energy. You can also glimpse the majestic mountain ranges like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and the Balakun peak, also known as Alakapuri, the abode of Kubera, the god of wealth. Start your trek from Badrinath, hire a taxi or any local vehicle to reach Mana Village which is 2 km from Badrinath. The trek starts from Mana Village; you cross Saraswati river and then the trek goes to Bhim pul road. Near Bhim pul is a temple dedicated to Draupadi (wife of the Pandavas). You have to walk about 2.5 km from Draupadi temple. to reach the Vasudhara Falls.
After passing the Saraswati Mandir, the trek becomes difficult as the trail is very steep. The views of the Vasudhara river valley during this trek are very picturesque. Bathing under falling water is very refreshing and adventurous. Mountains like Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and Balakun can be seen from here.
Haridwar – Joshimath – Badrinath – Mana – Vasudhara falls – Badrinath – Chopta – Tungnath – Chandrashila Trek – Ukhimath – Haridwar
The fall is considered to be a divine place by locals. There is a myth among the people of nearby villages that the water of this waterfall turns away from the people who are not pure at heart. Devotees believe that Pandavas had passed through Mana village, when they were on their journey to heaven.
The best visiting season for Badrinath is summer months from May to November with May to June being the most crowded months when the pilgrim rush is at its peak and September to October being ideal for a more relaxed spiritual journey. Due to heavy rainfall in the area, visitors may face difficulty reaching the temple during monsoon season (late June to Aug). March to June are very pleasant with moderate climate, with average around 18°C. Summers are ideal for all sightseeing and pilgrimage. July to mid-September are accompanied with scanty rains and also temperature drops down to 15°C.
The region is prone to occasional landslides and travelling can be difficult. November to April are chilly days with average minimum touching near 5°C. Minimums can touch sub zero levels and snow falling is seen very often during winters. Badrinath temple is closed during winters for 6 months.
You can visit the shrine during these festivals for more enriched experienced
The trek to Vasudhara Falls can only be undertaken when the portals of the Badrinath temple open, which is usually from May 2 to October or November every year. So the best time to visit this place would be from May to June. Autumn looks amazing during monsoon and post monsoon season with lush greenery and beautiful mountains around. March to June is the ideal time to visit this waterfall. Mana is accessible only when the Badrinath season starts in April/May, so the best time to visit this place is between May and June.
Joshimath : In the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, the sacred town of Joshimath is situated in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The two mighty rivers, the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga meet at the confluence of Vishnuprayag overlooking the town of Joshimath. And the view of Hathi Parvat and other Himalayan Peaks is mystifying.The town of Joshimath is also nicknamed as Jyotirmath and is the winter seat of Lord Badri, whose idol is brought down from Badrinath temple to Vasudeva temple at Joshimath. This holy town is revered by the Hindus for being an important pilgrimage centre of the country.
Badrinath Dham : Badrinath is the only Shrine which is a part of both Chota Char Dham and India Char Dham. Badrikashram (Badrinath Temple) in the North, Rameshwaram in South, Dwarkapuri in west and Jagannathpuri in east, Badrinath Dham is one among four pilgrimage centres in four corners of India. Badrinath Temple is situated in Badrinath town and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. According to the Bhagvat Puran, Badrikashram the Supreme being (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nar & Narayan, had been undergoing great expiation since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities.
Mana Village : Just 3 km away from Badrinath, Mana is a dreamy hamlet located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is the last village at the China border of the Indian region. It’s a tradition in Mana village that localities on the closing day of the temple offer choli to the idol of Badrinath Ji. Dubbed the ‘last Indian Village’ on the Indo-Tibet Border, Mana in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand is definitely an exciting place to visit. The place has its close proximity to the religious site of Badrinath and is situated at a short distance of about 4 km from this important pilgrimage site. Mana Village is located at an altitude of around 3219 metres and on the bank of River Saraswati.
Chopta : Chopta is situated at an approximate altitude of 2,608 m, a slice of paradise tucked away in the Garhwal Himalayas. Chopta is situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Chopta is at the epicentre of the Panch Kedar – the five most sacred Shiva temples in the state. On its left are located Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar shrines and on the right, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, and just above it, the Tungnath temple, which by the way is the highest Shiva Temple in India. Chopta is also part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and offers trekkers an excellent opportunity of scaling to a height of 4000 m.
Ukhimath : Located around 45 km from Chopta, Ukhimath is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath. There are several other well-known temples here like the ones of Usha and Aniruddha. Ukhimath is a small market/town which is closest to Chopta. It is the last place from Chopta on the Rudraprayag-Augustmuni side where tourists can find Shops to buy clothes/groceries or medicines, Hospitals, ATMs, Bank and to buy other necessities.
Tungnath Temple : Known as the world’s highest Shiva Temple, Tungnath is on the route to the trek from Chopta to Chandrashila peak. The famous Tungnath temple is thought to be over 1000 years old and, according to the scriptures, is the third temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar circuit. The serenity and calmness that envelopes this place is something beyond words. It is believed to have been constructed by Pandavas after the Kurukshetra War.
Chandrashila Peak : At 4,000m, the Chandrashila peak is the summit of the Chandranath Parvat on which the Tungnath temple is located. Chandrashila (literally meaning moon rock), the majestic peak offers a stunning panoramic view of the Himalayas. It’s a popular trekking route and it is a challenging 5-km trek. Chandrashila is a steep 1.5 kms trek from Tungnath temple which is a 3.5 kms trek from Chopta hill station. Chandrashila and Tungnath are covered with snow during the winters and also popular as winter treks.
The distance between Badrinath and Vasudhara is 9 km. The first 3 kilometres of Badrinath to Mana village is road. Then the visitors have to trek 6 km from Mana village to reach this waterfall which takes about two hours.
By Road : Badrinath being one of the holiest places of Hindus is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand. The travellers can take the bus to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Srinagar from ISBT, Kashmiri Gate New Delhi. Local transport to Badrinath town can be easily available from the major cities of Uttarakhand like Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Ukhimath, Srinagar, Chamoli etc.
By Rail : Rishikesh railway station situated 294 km before Badrinath on NH58, is the nearest railhead. Trains are frequent to Rishikesh and Badrinath is well connected by motorable roads with Rishikesh. One can easily catch a bus or hire a taxi from Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Joshimath etc. to reach Badrinath.
By Air : The Jolly Grant airport situated at a distance of 311 km is the closest airport to Badrinath. It operates daily flights to Delhi and taxis can be easily available to Badrinath from Jolly Grant airport
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