BADRINATH  , a

village and celebrated temple in British India, in the Garhwal district of the United Provinces . It is situated on the right bank of the Vishnuganga, a tributary of the Alaknanda river, in the middle of a valley nearly 4 M. in length and r in breadth . The village is small, containing only twenty or thirty huts, in which reside the Brahmans and the attendants of the temple . This building, which is considered a place of high sanctity, is by no means equal to its great celebrity . It is about 40 or 50 ft. in height, built in the form of a cone, with a small cupola, on the top of which is a gilt ball and spire, and contains the shrine of Badrinath, dedicated to an incarnation of Vishnu . The principal idol is of black stone and is 3 ft. in height . Badrinath is a favourite resort of pilgrims from all parts of India . In ordinary years the number varies from 7000 to ro,000; but every twelfth year, when the festival of Kumbhmela is celebrated, the concourse of persons is said to be 50,000 . In addition to the gifts of votaries, the temple enjoys a further source of revenue from the rents of villages assigned by former rajas . Successive temples have been shattered by avalanches, and the existing building is modern . It is situated among mountains rising 23,000 ft. above the level of the sea . Elevation of the site of the temple, 10,294 ft .