Badrinath, the ‘Vaikuntha’ descended on the earth and the seraphic abode of Lord Vishnu and Lord Adinath is one of the four Char Dhams of India (the other three being Puri, Rameshwaram and Dwarka) and also one of the four Chota Char Dhams (the other three being Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri). Highly revered by the Hindus as well as Jains, Badrinath receives a substantial flow of tourists and pilgrims particularly during the summer months. The character of this town is firmly associated with its religious façade and Badrinath wholly subsists as a notably sought after pilgrim destination of India.

The temple of Lord Badrinath is kept open from the first week of May till the second week of November and hordes of devotees pay homage at the feet of Lord Vishnu during this period of time. The bazaar around the temple is packed with several religious and temple related articles and the pilgrims make it a point to buy Shaligram Shilas, Sacred Threads, Aarti CDs and Booklets, Holy Books, Brass Articles and Artifacts, Sea Shells, other Religious Stuff and Temple Requirements, etc from here. Apart from that, other shopping delights available at Badrinath include Ayurvedic Medicines, Woolen Clothes, Caps, Shawls, Blankets, Ancient Coins, Colorful Beads and Bracelets, Antiques and Knick Knacks, Electronic Goods from China etc.

Even though there is no worth mentioning cuisine that is exclusive to Badrinath, the locals here essentially enjoy eating dal, roti and potato curry. Only Vegetarian food is eaten at Badrinath and non vegetarian food or alcoholic drinks are strictly forbidden here.

Badrinath, the archetype of the religious concord between Hindus and Jains and the luminous spectrum of nature, religion and culture celebrates almost all the North Indian Festivals including Basant Panchami, Bhitauli, Batsavitri, Harela, Phooldei, Ganga Dusshera, Khatarua, Dikar Puja, Olgi/Ghee Sankranti, Ghuian Ekadashi, Ghughutia etc. The everyday life of the women in this region is mainly characterized with festivals, fasting and preparing festive food.

The most important fairs organized at Badrinath are Jauljibi, Bageshwar and Thal. These fairs are intimately correlated with the economical activities of the people of this region. The fairs that are mainly celebrated with religious and cultural point of view are Dwarahat, Devidhura and Syalde. All of these fairs as well as the folk festivals of Badrinath are incredibly vivid and distinctive and reflect a fine blend of social, cultural and natural factors profoundly affecting them. The people of Badrinath mainly speak Hindi and Garwali languages and wear heavy woolen clothes to protect themselves from the biting and freezing cold of this high altitude terra firma.