Badrinatha Temple Holy Abode of Nara-Narayana Rsi Badarinatha, or Badarikasrama, is in Uttar Pradesh in North India. According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said to be the abode of the great rsis Nara-Narayana. This is one of the four main dhamas for pilgrims and Narada Muni also attained liberation at this place. The present temple is about 400 years old and the Deity of Lord Badarinatha Himself is self-manifest from a 2 foot high salagrama-sila. This Deity was installed by Sankaracarya who recovered Him from the nearby Narada-kunda. The temple is open six months of the year, from May to October. During the winter months it is closed.

Yamunotri Here, the sacred Yamuna River begins. Yamunotri is about 234km north of Haridvara. When accessible, about 2000 pilgrims a day make the journey to take darsana at Yamunotri. The actual source of the Yamuna is the Saptarsi-kunda where it is said that the seven great sages Atri, Bharadvaja, Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Kasyapa and Jamadagni, performed great austerities for millions of years during Satya-yuga. Here pilgrims take bath in the hot springs at the temple and offer "prasad" by placing rice or potatoes into the hot springs enclosed in cloth bags.

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