Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand

The presiding deity is of Lord Vishnu in black stone standing at a height of 1 metre. It is believed that the available statue of Badrinarayan is one of the eight self-manifested statues in India attracting pilgrims and devotees from various schools of Hinduism. As per some accounts, it was Adi Shankaracharya who had converted this Buddhist structure into a temple in the 8th century.

There are numerous legends and myths surrounding the construction of this temple. One of these legends states that after being chastised by a sage, Lord Vishnu went to Badrinath in order to perform austerity and deep meditation, for a long duration of time in the yogic position of Padmasana. The Vishnu idol present inside the temple is in the form of a Padmasana depicting the manner in which Lord Vishnu was meditating. Badrinath is also the perfect destination for adventure and thrill seekers as well with snow covered trekking paths and a breathtaking view of the valley.