Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, is located in Uttarakhand at an altitude of 6150 feet. It is the gateway to many Himalayan mountaineering expeditions, trekking trails and pilgrimage centers like Badrinath. It is one of the four major Peethas established by
Adi Shankaracharya.
Joshimath is on high alert
From 7 February 2021, the area was severely affected by floods and its aftermath. The sinking of the city has been confirmed due to its geographical location being along a ridge. The district administration had earlier marked Red Cross on over 200 houses unsafe to live in the sinking city.
More than 600 structures have either cracked or been partially destroyed. People are being shifted based on the magnitude of the potential threat. For which each family will get an assistance of Rs 4,000 per month for the next six months from the state government.
Importance of Joshimath
Like every ancient temple town, Joshimath is where
Adi Shankaracharya established the first of the four mathas in the northern corner of India. The city is also known as Jyotimath and is also recognized as an astrological center. Priests, sages and saints kept coming here from all over the country and many settled here in the olden times.
Adi Shankaracharya established the
Badrinath temple and installed Namboodiri priests there and continues to do so even today, with Joshimath being the winter retreat of Badrinath. During the 6 months of winter when the Badrinath temple is covered with snow, Bhagwan Vishnu is worshiped at the
Narasimha Temple in Joshimath itself. The Rawals of Badrinath live in Joshimath with the temple staff during the winters until the doors of the temple open after the winters.
Joshimath has deep roots in spirituality and the culture here is based on the mythology of
Bhagwan Vishnu. In fact it is believed that a visit to Badrinath remains incomplete until one visits Joshimath and worships at the
Narasimha Temple.