The Himalayan shrine of Badrinath was reopened for darshan amidst chanting of vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells in the early hours of Thursday.
The gates of the shrine, located at a height of 10,000 feet, were reopened at 4.05 a.m. by head priest Rawal in the presence of religious heads and officials, chairman of the Badrinath- Kedarnath Temple Committee Ganesh Godiyal said.
The opening of the portals of Badrinath took place after the idol of Lord Vishnu was reinstalled in the sanctum sanctorum, Mr. Godiyal said.
With this, all the four shrines of Char Dham — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — are now open for darshan. They will remain open for six months after which the areas will be snow-bound.
The Uttarakhand government has made special arrangements along the yatra routes.