!BADRINATH BADRINATH, a shrine of Vishnu, in the State of Uttarakhand in N.W. India, 10,000 ft. high; much frequented by pilgrims for the sacred waters near it, which are believed to be potent to cleanse from all pollution. It is a famous place for Hindu pilgrimage. It is known as one of the four places of pilgrimage (Char Dham). This holy town is in Chamoli district. It is in the Garhwal hills range on the banks of the Alaknanda River. It has an average elevation of 3,415 metres. The town lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak (6,560m). Badrinath is located 301 km North of Rishikesh and 233 km from Gaurikund (near Kedarnath) by road.  Badrinath was established as a major pilgrimage site by Adi Shankaracharya in the ninth century. 'Badri' refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in the area, and 'nath' refers to Vishnu.  Legend has it that the Goddess Lakshmi took the form of the berries to provide sustenance to Lord Vishnu during his long penance in the Himalayas. The Badrinath temple is the main attraction in the town. According to legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda in the ninth century.  He then enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund, a hot spring. The King of Garhwal moved it to the present temple in  the sixteenth century. Since then the temple has undergone several major renovations. In the 17th century, the temple was expanded by the kings of Garhwal. After significant damage in the great 1803 Himalayan earthquake, it was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur. The temple is approximately 50 ft (15 m) tall with a small cupola on the top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The facade is built of stone, with arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to a tall arched gateway, which is the main entrance. The architecture resembles a Buddhist vihara (temple), with the brightly painted facade.