Skip to content
Naksh.iq
Badrinath — host of Mata Murti Ka Mela

Festival · UTTARAKHAND

Mata Murti Ka Mela.

September · Badrinath

Annual fair honouring Mata Murti, mother of Nar and Narayan, held on the banks of the Alaknanda River with rituals and local festivities.

Why it mattersreligious

Going for this? Badrinath in September

NakshIQ score
3/10
Wait

September is monsoon's exit and Badrinath's autumn surprise. The crowds thin dramatically, the weather clears by mid-month, and the temple operates in relative peace. Fresh snow on Neelkanth peak, autumn colours in the valley — September Badrinath is beautiful and uncrowded.

See the Badrinath September guide →

Getting there

Elevation
3133 m
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun — 311km
Nearest railway
Rishikesh — 297km

Live in Badrinath

Where to stay in Badrinath

  • GMVN Tourist Rest House

    ₹800-2,000/night
    guesthouse · Near Badrinath Temple

    Government-run, clean rooms with hot water — rare at this altitude. Right next to the temple. Book ahead in peak season or you're sleeping in a car.

  • Swaminarayan Mandir Dharamshala

    Rs 400-1200/night
    guesthouse · Badrinath

    Well-maintained dharamshala near the temple with good Gujarati food, hot water and clean rooms at budget prices

  • Parmarth Lok Ashram

    Rs 500-1500/night
    guesthouse · Badrinath

    Spiritual ashram near Badrinath Temple with clean rooms, hot water and vegetarian meals. Peaceful atmosphere for pilgrims

All stays in Badrinath →

Where to eat

  • India's Last Tea Shop (Chandra Singh Badwal)

    Legendary
    Mana Village · ₹

    Signaturetulsi chai

    It's a ₹20 chai with a ₹500 photo opportunity — most yatris pay for the certificate-style printout. Skip the certificate, ask Chandra Singh about the winter migration; that's the conversation worth the climb.

  • Saket Restaurant

    Legendary
    Main Bazaar, Badrinath · ₹₹

    Signaturepunjabi thali

    Order a thali (₹300 feeds two) and add the kesariya kheer at ₹80 a plate — it's the dish reviewers come back for, and most yatra groups skip it because it isn't on the lunch combo.

  • Shri Badrinarayan Bhojnalaya

    Near ISBT, Main Bazaar, Badrinath · ₹

    Signatureunlimited veg thali

    If you arrive late off the Joshimath-Badrinath bus and Saket has stopped seating, Bhojnalaya stays open later. Thali refills happen by reaching across — no shame in asking twice.

  • Cafe in the Park (Sarovar Portico)

    Hotel Sarovar Portico, Badrinath · ₹₹₹

    Signaturevegetarian buffet

    Day-walk-ins are accepted but call ahead during yatra peak (June-Aug, Oct) — buffet seating is held back for hotel guests first. The fast-food outlet 'Sarovar' next door does the same kitchen at lower prices if the buffet is full.

All eateries in Badrinath →

What else to see in Badrinath

  • Mana Village

    Last Indian village before the Tibet border. Vyas Gufa (cave where Vedas were written) and Bhim Pul.

    viewpoint
    2-3 hours

  • Badrinath Temple

    Sacred Char Dham temple at 10,279 ft dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Colorful facade against Neelkanth peak backdrop.

    temple
    1-2 hours

  • Tapt Kund

    Natural hot water spring near the temple. Pilgrims bathe here before temple darshan. Water at 45°C.

    hot-spring
    30 min

Other festivals in Badrinath

Other festivals in September, elsewhere

See every festival in September →

ALSO ON NAKSHIQ

Eight more rooms in the magazine.

Guides

Visa, scams, food, packing.

Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.

Blog

Field notes from the road.

Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.

Road trips

Curated multi-day routes.

Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.

Collections

Themed reading lists.

Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.

NakshIQ 100

The 100 best destination-months.

India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.

The Window

Our weekly newsletter, archived.

One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.

Skip list

What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.

Overhyped places with honest alternatives.

First trip

Planning your first time in India.

Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.