Welcome to the land of holy ponds, where taking a dip in Narad Kund near Badrinath is considered a must-do activity before visiting the Badrinath Temple. Legend has it that Adi Sankaracharya recovered the idol of Lord Vishnu from this hot water spring, and it’s also believed to have therapeutic healing properties that can cure all your ailments and diseases.
But that’s not all! The Narad Kund has some exciting stories to tell. It’s named after Narad Muni, who was considered to be a popular storyteller, travelling musician, and an enlightened preacher of the Hindu Dharma. According to one legend, Narad Muni meditated in this Kund for a very long time, and even today, people believe that he exists there in a spiritual, unidentified form.
If you’re lucky, you might even see the ghee diyas or lamps still burning, lit by the priests before closing the Badrinarayan temple in the monsoon and winter months. Legend has it that Narad Muni keeps these diyas from burning away and worships the deity every day, which is nothing short of a miracle.
But don’t worry; you don’t have to take a dip in Narad Kund to enjoy its beauty. You can sit on the banks of the Kund, admire the small ducks, birds, turtles, and even water snakes that add life to this sacred pond. The wooden area surrounding the Kund and the calmness that one feels, away from the regular noises and blaring horns, makes the Narad Kund worth the visit.
Surrounding the Kund, you’ll find five rocks or Shilas dedicated to five different gods. The water found in the Narad Kund is believed to originate from the Garur Shila before falling into the pond. You’ll also find a special Paras people tree that grows four different types of flowers on its branches. It’s considered to be very special because it’s the fifty-first grandson of the tree that lived near Narad Kund during Narad Muni’s era.
The best time to visit Narad Kund is from May to October when the thermal hot springs are in full swing. During the monsoon and winter periods, the main Vishnu temple is closed, and heavy snowfall can be dangerous and risky. You can reach Narad Kund easily by air, rail, or road.
So, whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, the Narad Kund is a place you don’t want to miss on your visit to Badrinath.