so here is the thing about badrinath
i have been thinking about how to write this for a while now. not because i don’t know what to say but because there is so much to say. Badrinath is one of those places that you hear about your whole life and then when you finally go it somehow exceeds every expectation. and trust me i had HIGH expectations.
the journey there
getting to Badrinath is an adventure in itself. i took the overnight train from delhi because thats the cheapest and most comfortable option. left at 11pm and reached the base city by morning. cost me like rs 400 in sleeper class. then from there a bus ride through the mountains. the roads are winding and narrow and the driver somehow manages to navigate them at speeds that make you close your eyes. but the views man. pine forests and river valleys and snow capped peaks in the distance. you forget about the fear pretty quickly.
what it actually costs
ngl i was surprised by how affordable this trip was. total cost from delhi for 4 days came to around rs 8000-10000 including everything. transport was the biggest expense at around rs 3000. accommodation rs 1500-2000 per night for decent places. food rs 300-500 per day. entry fees and tips another rs 500-1000. if you are on a tight budget you can do it in rs 6000 easily.
the real expense is the trekking gear if you don’t already have it. good shoes are a must. i bought a pair of decathlon shoes for rs 1500 and they saved my life on those slippery mountain paths. pack light though. you carry everything on your back and every kilo matters when you are climbing at altitude.
the experience itself
i don’t know how to explain the feeling of standing there. the energy is different. people talk about vibrations and i used to roll my eyes but now i get it. there is something in the air. the bells and the mantras and the cold wind carrying the sound of prayers from hundreds of devotees. its overwhelming in the best way.
i spent hours just sitting and watching. families helping elderly parents up the steps. groups of friends laughing and taking photos. solo travelers with that lost but found look in their eyes. old couples who have been waiting their whole lives for this moment. everyone has a story and everyone ends up at the same place. there is something beautiful about that.
if you are thinking about making this trip stop thinking and start planning. the perfect time doesn’t exist. the money will never feel like enough. the fear will never fully go away. but the regret of not going is worse than any of those things. trust me on this.
honestly the best part about all of this is that i get to share it with you. when i started punyapaths i had no idea if anyone would even read it. but every message from someone who found the guide helpful or took the trip because of something i wrote makes it all worth it. travel is not just about moving through space. its about connecting. with places. with people. with yourself. and if my stories help even one person take that first step then i have done what i set out to do. so keep exploring. keep asking questions. keep being curious about the world. there is so much out there waiting for you.
the first time i traveled alone i was terrified. i sat at the airport for two hours trying to convince myself to just go home. but i didnt. i got on that plane and it was the best decision i ever made. since then i have been to 15+ countries and countless cities and every single trip taught me something new. not just about the places but about myself. about what i am capable of. about how strong i really am. travel strips away all the distractions and leaves you with just you. and thats scary at first. but eventually it becomes the most liberating feeling in the world.
so here is my advice to anyone reading this. stop waiting for the perfect moment. stop waiting for more money or more time or a travel partner. just go. book the cheapest ticket you can find and figure out the rest when you get there. you will make mistakes. you will get lost. you will spend too much on some things and too little on others. but you will also have experiences that change you forever. and at the end of the day that is what life is really about. not the money you made or the things you bought but the moments that took your breath away and the people who made you feel alive.
keep exploring. keep wandering. the world is beautiful and it is waiting for you.
— Jeetu Kumawat, traveler from Bhilwara, Rajasthan who has explored 15+ countries and countless pilgrimage sites across India. He shares real, unfiltered travel experiences at PunyaPaths.