The Road to Badrinath

I thought Badrinath would begin at the temple, but for me it began much earlier on the road.

The journey kept changing after every turn. Rivers ran beside the road, mountains stood close, and small towns appeared like resting points between effort and faith. I watched people travelling with bags, shawls, walking sticks and quiet prayers.

By the time I reached Badrinath, I was already carrying the feeling of the journey inside me. The temple was powerful, but the road had prepared me for it.

Standing there, surrounded by cold air and mountains, I felt that some journeys are not only about arrival. They slowly change your pace, your thoughts and the way you look at distance.