Avoid
Badrinath in April
Uttarakhand, India
Late April sometimes sees the highway cleared, but the temple opening date is set by priests based on the Hindu calendar — usually late April to mid-May. The town comes alive with preparation: hotels open, shops stock up, and the first pilgrims line up before the doors even open.
The April story
Late April is all anticipation. The highway typically opens a few days before the temple, so the first arrivals camp in a still-waking town — hotels half-ready, restaurants firing up for the first time in months, and the temple complex being cleaned and decorated. The temple opening ceremony (kapaat kholna) is a major event attended by priests, officials, and devoted pilgrims who time their entire year around this moment. The first darshan of the season — seeing the Badrinath idol after five months of closure, with the akhand jyoti still burning — is one of Hinduism's most emotional spiritual experiences. Neelkanth peak (6596m) gleams white above the town. The Alaknanda river roars with snowmelt. April at Badrinath is not comfortable (3-12°C, snow everywhere), but it is profoundly powerful.
Why April scores 1/5
Weather
Temple may open last week of April (date varies). Roads clearing but unstable. Landslide debris common. Only visit if confirmed open.
Roads & Access
self drive: Challenging — 12hr mountain drive. High clearance vehicle recommended. road condition: NH7 landslide-prone. Road rebuilt annually after winter. Single lane in many sections. public transport: GMOU buses from Rishikesh during season. Shared taxis from Joshimath. from nearest city: Rishikesh — 298km, 11-12hr. Joshimath — 45km, 2hr. last km difficulty: hard
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 2/5. rescue: SDRF Uttarakhand, Army rescue — helipad for emergencies. helpline: 100 (police), 108 (ambulance), 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Temple committee ambulance. 108 unreliable at altitude. police station: Badrinath PS — near temple. nearest hospital: Army medical post — limited civilian help. PHC Badrinath basic. Base Hospital Joshimath — 45km
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL only and patchy. No Jio/Airtel. Better signal at Joshimath
Kids
Not ideal for kids — Spiritual significance for families, Hot springs at Tapt Kund
Elevation
3,133m — Moderate altitude
Who should go
- ✓Travelers with basic fitness
- ✓Devoted pilgrims who time their year around the temple opening ceremony
- ✓Those wanting the first darshan of the season — deeply emotional
- ✓Adventure-spiritual travellers comfortable with cold and basic facilities
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Those wanting comfortable pilgrimage — April Badrinath is cold and basic
- ✗Travellers who dislike uncertainty — opening dates shift
- ✗Families with young children — altitude and cold are challenging
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Temple closed. Buried under 6-10 feet of snow. NH-7 blocked beyond Joshimath. No access whatsoever until late April. |
| February | 0/5 | Temple closed. Heaviest snowfall month. Entire valley inaccessible. Avalanche risk on surrounding slopes. Zero visitor infrastructure. |
| March | 0/5 | Temple still closed. Snow begins melting at lower elevations but Badrinath remains buried. BRO starts road clearing work mid-March. |
| Aprilviewing | 1/5 | Temple may open last week of April (date varies). Roads clearing but unstable. Landslide debris common. Only visit if confirmed open. |
| May | 4/5 | Season begins, 5-18°C. Temple open, roads clear. Pilgrims surge. Tapt Kund hot springs at their best. Book Badrinath hotels early — limited options. |
| June | 4/5 | Peak Char Dham season, 8-20°C. Heavy pilgrim traffic. Helicopter bookings full. Early monsoon showers start late June. Visit first half of month. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon hits hard. Landslides on Joshimath-Badrinath road frequent. Temple open but access unreliable. Multiple road closures likely. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Road to Badrinath among India's most dangerous this month. Pilgrims stranded regularly. Avoid — not worth the risk. |
| September | 3/5 | Monsoon receding, 5-15°C. Roads stabilizing. Fewer pilgrims means peaceful darshan. Neelkanth peak visible on clear days. Good window. |
| October | 4/5 | Last month before closure, 2-12°C. Stunning autumn colours in Mana village. Snow dusts upper peaks. Uncrowded, spiritual, photogenic. |
| November | 0/5 | Temple closed for winter after Diwali-week ceremony. Snow begins accumulating. Road closes. Murti moved to Pandukeshwar for winter worship. |
| December | 0/5 | Deep winter. Temple closed, valley under heavy snow. No road access. Entire area in hibernation until spring thaw. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Rishikesh — 298km, 11-12hr. Joshimath — 45km, 2hr. Roads: NH7 landslide-prone. Road rebuilt annually after winter. Single lane in many sections. Self-drive: Challenging — 12hr mountain drive. High clearance vehicle recommended. Public transport: GMOU buses from Rishikesh during season. Shared taxis from Joshimath. Last stretch: hard
Elevation
3,133m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in April
The Window — every Sunday
Best score this week, the honest skip, road intel, and what changed. Free. No spam.
One email per Sunday. Unsubscribe anytime.