No Data
Badrinath in January
Uttarakhand, India
Badrinath is closed. The temple shuts in November and won't reopen until late April or May. The town is buried under metres of snow at 3133m. The Alaknanda river is frozen in stretches. No facilities, no access, no reason to attempt this. The mountain gods are resting.
The January story
The Badrinath temple's closure is itself a spiritual event. In November, the Dimri family priests perform the closing ceremony, lighting an akhand jyoti (eternal flame) that burns unsupervised through winter — and when the temple reopens five months later, pilgrims check first that the flame still burns. In January, worship of the Badrinath murti continues at the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath, 45km below. If you're in Joshimath for skiing at Auli, the winter Badrinath puja at Narsingh Temple is a meaningful alternative. The Joshimath temple is small and intimate — a different experience from Badrinath's summer crowds. Do not attempt the Badrinath road. Do not even consider it. People have died trying.
Why January scores 0/5
Weather
Temple closed. Buried under 6-10 feet of snow. NH-7 blocked beyond Joshimath. No access whatsoever until late April.
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
- ✓Nobody — the temple and town are closed and inaccessible
- ✓Joshimath visitors can attend winter Badrinath puja at Narsingh Temple
- ✓Auli skiers with interest in Badrinath's mythology can visit Joshimath shrine
Who should think twice
- ✗Those with mobility issues
- ✗Everyone — the temple is closed and the road is impassable
- ✗Anyone tempted to attempt the highway — it is life-threateningly dangerous
- ✗Travellers who think winter Badrinath might be an adventure — it is not
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 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. |
| April | 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 January
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