Badrinath Yatra from Banda
in May 2026

Tapt Kund is a natural geothermal hot spring adjacent to the Badrinath temple, maintained at 45–55°C year-round by volcanic activity beneath the Alaknanda riverbed. Tradition holds that pilgrims must bathe in Tapt Kund before entering the temple for darshan. While not legally mandatory, it is considered an essential purification rite. The pool is segregated by gender; bathing time should be limited to 3–5 minutes.

Key sites within day-trip distance of Badrinath include: Mana village (3 km, last Indian village before Tibet border; home to Vyas Gufa and Ganesha Gufa where the Mahabharata was composed), Bheem Pul (a natural rock bridge over Saraswati river), Vasudhara Falls (9 km; a 145-m waterfall considered sacred), and the Satopanth Lake trek (24 km round trip; requires a permit and guide). All are accessible in May when snow has cleared from lower paths.

After descending from Kedarnath to Gaurikund, the route continues to Rudraprayag, then via Chamoli and Joshimath to Badrinath — approximately 225 km (6–7 hours). Most pilgrims overnight at Guptkashi or Ukhimath after Kedarnath, then drive to Badrinath via Joshimath the following day with a stop at Pipalkoti for lunch.