The mystical and divine land of Uttarakhand is home to thousands of temples. One of the most prominent ranges of temples is that of Sapt Badri of the Badrikshetra. Vridh Badri is one of the famous temples of the Sapt Badri. Located at Animath in the Chamoli district, this mystical temple is surrounded by fascinating history.
This temple dates back to the period of the Gupta Dynasty, which makes it one of the many ancient temples present in Uttarakhand. The legend around these ancient temples is very famous. It is said that sage Narad decided to penance for his doings at this particular place to please his Narayan or Lord Vishnu. Impressed by his devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the disguise of a wrinkled old man. Since then, an Idol of Lord Vishnu in the form of an old man was created by Vishwakarma and installed in this holy shrine.
It is believed that the idol stayed in Animath till it was flooded. Later, in the 8th century, it was found by Adi Shankaracharya and was reinstalled at the original temple site. Another popular belief is that the original idol created by Vishwakarma is now at the main Badrinath temple.
While this temple is accessible to the devotees throughout the year, the best time to visit is from May to October. It is highly advisable not to visit the shrine during the monsoon as the area is prone to floods and landslides. Massive snowfall during the winters season is another problem. One must plan their trip accordingly.
One can visit the other Sapt Badri present in close vicinity to the main temple. The trek to Vridha Badri is steep, but the scenic beauty makes up for all the tiredness.
Vridh Badri temple can be accessed easily by various routes.
By Air, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the first stop. After reaching Joshimath, it is just a 7 km drive to Animath. Most tourists prefer their own conveyance rather than using public transport as it gives them the time to explore the beauty of nature en route.