One of the four Dhaam - Badaree Naath (in Uttaraa Khand) in North, Jagannaath Puree (in Udeesaa) in East, Raameshwaram (in Tamil Naadu) in South, and Dwaarakaa Puree (in Gujaraat) in West . Thus these four Dhaam are located in all the four directions of India. This one is located in North in Himaalaya on the banks of River Dhaulee Gangaa. It is also known as Badarik Aashram. Badaree Naath is another name of Vishnu. Among these four, three are the temples of Vishnu, only Raameshwaram is the temple of Shiv Jee. Dhanu (Sagittarius), Sinh (Leo) and Mesh (Aries) Raashi (Sign) person should visit once in life here.

Cradled in the twin Mountain ranges of Nar and Naaraayan is the holy shrine. Legend has it that when Gangaa was to descend on Prithvi, it fell on Shiv's Jataa and when it came out from Shiv's Jataa it came out in 5 rivers - Alaknandaa is one of them. It is situated along the left bank of Alaknandaa with the towering Neelkanth peak as the splendid backdrop at an elevation of 3,133 meters. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name "Badaree Van", meaning "forest of berries" .

Badree Naath was established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya Jee in 9th AD century. Shankar discovered the image of Badree Naaraayan in the Alaknandaa River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the 16th century, the king of Garhwaal moved the Moorti to the present temple. The most important feature of this temple is the one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badree Naaraayan, made of black Shaal Graam stone. The statue is considered to be one of eight Swayam Vyakt (or Swaayambhoo), or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.

One legend explains the reason why Vishnu is shown sitting in Padmaasan, rather than reclining. According to the story, Vishnu was chastised by a sage who saw Vishnu's consort Lakshmee massaging His feet. Vishnu went to Badree Naath to perform austerity, meditating for a long time in Padmaasan. To this day, the area around Badree Naath attracts Yogee who come for meditation and seclusion.

One story goes that in his previous incarnation, Arjun prayed as Nar to Naaraayan Vishnu here and asked for His companionship in his next birth. His prayer was granted by Badaree Naath Jee and Arjun got the companionship of Shree Krishn in Mahaaabhaarat times.

Another story goes that once Shiv and Paarvatee were meditating there, that Vishnu came there in disguise of a little boy crying. Paarvatee Jee asked the boy of the reason of His crying. The boy said - "I want to meditate here, so I want to have this area." Shiv and Paarvatee found that the boy was Vishnu in disguise, so they left the area and went to Kedaar Naath.

Bhaagvat Puraan, 3/1, says that Nar and Naaraayan are still doing Tap since time immemorial for the benefit for the people.
The Skand Puraan states that "There are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell; but there is no shrine like Badreenaath."
The area around Badreenaath was also celebrated in Padm Puraan as abounding in spiritual treasures.

Badree Kshetra
Badaree is the name, and Kshetra means a piece of land. It is the land around Badaree Naath Jee (see below). Mentioned many times in scriptures. It is a holy place where many people, including Nar and Naaraayan, Uddhav etc had gone to do Tap. Bhavishya Puraan, 3/30 gives another name to it - Vishaalaa.

Badree Van
Badaree is the name, and Van means forest. It is a Teerth place and is often mentioned in context of people living there in their last days. It is the place for doing Tap also.

Some Places on the Way

Rishikesh
This is the first place to start the journey to Badaree Naath. Rishi + kesh, the Hair of Sages, is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Gangaa and is surrounded by Shivaalik range of the Himaalaya on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of "Hrishikesh " and this area hence forth came to be known as Rishikesh.

Joshee Math
Joshee Math is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknandaa and Dhaulee Gangaa. Of the four Math established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya, Joshee Math is in Badaree Naath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir Singh in commotion of Vishnu. The popular belief holds that the left arm of this deity, when with time and the day, will completely wither, Badaree Naath valley will cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Neeti Valley at Bhavishya Badaree. Joshimath is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwaar, Badaree Naath and many other center in the region.

Tapt Kund
Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknandaa, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badaree Naath Temple.