Badrinath Temple: The main temple is small
and brightly painted in green,blue,
pink, yellow, white, silver and red.Guru Shankara founded the vividly colourful temple in the 8th
century. The temple has been renovated several times due to damages
by avalanches. The present structure is 15 mts. High and has a giled
cupola. The Rawal or chief priest of the temple is a Namboodripad or
a Brahmin from Kerala.Badrinath is snowbound over winter (when the
images are transferred to Pandukeshwar). The temple is divided into
three parts-the Garbha Griha or sanctum sanctorum the darshan mandap
where the rituals are conducted and the Sabha Mandap where devotees
assemble. The shrine is usually crowded with worshippers. There is a
hot pool nearby below the temple is known as Tapt Kund. This is fed
by a hot sulphurous spring in which Agni resides by kind permission
of Vishnu. It is customary to bathe in this kund. Surrounding the
temple is a colourful religious market.
