Yogadhyan Badri

योगध्यान बद्री

Vishnu · Yogadhyan Badri

Image in a meditative posture

Pandukeshwar, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand · Vaishnava tradition

Two ASI-protected Vishnu temples stand here, Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri, both dated to the 9th–10th century AD.

The story begins: “Pandukeshwar carries the name of a king: Pandu, father of the five Pandava brothers.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Season
Main months: May, Jun, Sep, OctDates and caveats
Getting there
Train: RishikeshAir: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun

Not yet confirmed: visiting hours, dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

Told in: Temple tradition, as published by the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee

Pandu's country

Pandukeshwar carries the name of a king: Pandu, father of the five Pandava brothers.

The temple committee's account places the whole surrounding region in an older geography. It was known then as Panchaldesh, and it was here, the account holds, that Pandu married Kunti.

The story comes back to the valley a generation later. The Pandavas, having ruled at Hastinapur, handed the kingdom over to King Parikshit and retired to this place.

The temple at the centre of the village is Yogadhyan Badri. Its name describes what is in the sanctum: an image of the Lord in a meditative posture — yoga and dhyana, meditation.

The committee gives the two episodes, the marriage and the retirement, as the link between the village and the Pandava king whose name it bears.

Where this account comes from

In one minute

Why Yogadhyan Badri matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Two ASI-protected Vishnu temples stand here, Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri, both dated to the 9th–10th century AD.

    Source for: Two ASI-protected Vishnu temples stand here, Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri, b
    • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Two Temples, Pandukeshwar: Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri (notification F-4-2(2)/42 F&L, 5 March 1942) asidehraduncircle.in

  2. The village is named after Pandu, and the temple committee's account holds that he married Kunti in this region, then known as Panchaldesh.

    Source for: The village is named after Pandu, and the temple committee's account holds that

  3. The same account says the Pandavas retired here after handing Hastinapur to King Parikshit.

    Source for: The same account says the Pandavas retired here after handing Hastinapur to King

  4. It is one of the five Badris in both the Uttarakhand Tourism and ASI lists.

    2 sources for: It is one of the five Badris in both the Uttarakhand Tourism and ASI lists.
    • Government: Uttarakhand Tourism, Panch Badri Circuit — names the set as Badrinath, Yogdhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Vridha Badri and Adi Badri, as recorded in circuits.json uttarakhandtourism.gov.in · seen 2026-09-18
    • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Remains of Sixteen Temples, Adibadri (notification 1669/1133-M, 1920) asidehraduncircle.in

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Nagara

The ASI describes Yogadhyanbadri as a garbhagriha, antarala and mandapa with a circular varandika, and Vasudevabadri as a rekha-shikhara temple, both 9th–10th century AD. Rekha-shikhara points to Nagara, but the ASI does not name the style, so it is not yet confirmed.

  • Sanctum

    Yogadhyanbadri sanctum and plan

    The sequence of garbhagriha, antarala and mandapa, and the meditative image in the sanctum.

    9th–10th century AD (ASI)

  • Detail

    Circular varandika

    The circular varandika — the cornice-band between wall and roof — which the ASI singles out as distinctive.

    9th–10th century AD (ASI)

  • Spire

    Vasudevabadri rekha-shikhara

    The curvilinear rekha-shikhara of the neighbouring Vasudevabadri temple.

    9th–10th century AD (ASI)

  • Detail

    Laxminarayan temple

    A third temple in the complex, locally called the Laxminarayan temple, exposed and restored by the ASI.

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

We could not confirm the opening times from the temple’s own notice, so we are not printing any. Please check with the temple office or the devasthanam before you travel.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Getting there

  • By road: Joshimath · about 20 kmOn the road to Badrinath, about 20 km from Joshimath (ASI) and 24 km short of Badrinath (temple committee).
  • By train: RishikeshNearest railhead, per the temple committee.
  • By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun · about 314 kmPer the temple committee.

Main pilgrimage months

The highlighted months are the season the temple’s sources point to. Exact opening and closing days change every year — check the dates before you book.

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May — recommended
  • Jun — recommended
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep — recommended
  • Oct — recommended
  • Nov
  • Dec

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

The temple’s festival calendar has not been sourced yet.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

  1. Pandu marries Kunti in Panchaldesh

    The temple committee's account of the place-name. No yuga is specified in the source.

    Source for: Pandu marries Kunti in Panchaldesh

In the historical record

  1. c. 800–1000

    Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri built

    The ASI dates both temples to the 9th–10th century AD.

    Source for: Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri built
    • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Two Temples, Pandukeshwar: Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri (notification F-4-2(2)/42 F&L, 5 March 1942) asidehraduncircle.in

  2. 1942

    Protected by the ASI

    The two temples were notified as centrally protected monuments on 5 March 1942 (F-4-2(2)/42 F&L). The ASI later exposed and restored a third temple in the complex. Year of that work not given.

    Source for: Protected by the ASI
    • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Two Temples, Pandukeshwar: Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri (notification F-4-2(2)/42 F&L, 5 March 1942) asidehraduncircle.in

  3. Listed by the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee

    The Yogbadari temple at Pandukeshwar is on the committee's list of temples. Date not found.

    Source for: Listed by the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Temple

    Badrinath

    About 24 km further up the road; the principal temple of the Panch Badri.

  • Temple

    Vriddha Badri, Animath

    Another Panch Badri temple, near Joshimath on the road down-valley.

Also in Chamoli district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Other Temples badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Two Temples, Pandukeshwar: Yogadhyanbadri and Vasudevabadri (notification F-4-2(2)/42 F&L, 5 March 1942) asidehraduncircle.in
  • Archaeological Survey of India: ASI Dehradun Circle, centrally protected monuments of District Chamoli — Remains of Sixteen Temples, Adibadri (notification 1669/1133-M, 1920) asidehraduncircle.in
  • Government: Uttarakhand Tourism, Panch Badri Circuit — names the set as Badrinath, Yogdhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Vridha Badri and Adi Badri, as recorded in circuits.json uttarakhandtourism.gov.in · seen 2026-09-18

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Yogadhyan Badri”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/yogadhyan-badri-pandukeshwar (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence