Badri or Lord Vishnu is another God worshipped widely in the region and the most sacred of all temples dedicated to him is Badrinath. In the heart of 
Badrinath town is the temple of Badri Vishal or Vishnu. Established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, this temple is visited by devotees from all over the country. Badrinath is said to have got its name from wild berry or ‘badri’ with which it was carpeted in the past. There is even a myth about how Vishnu made Badrinath his home after tricking Shiva, whose original abode it was! The head priest or Raval of the temple since that time has been a Namboodri from Kerala, the home of Shankaracharya.
Like the Panch Kedars, there are five temples devoted to Lord Vishnu which are called ‘Panch Badri’. These are Yoga Badri, Vridha Badri (Animath), Dhyan Badri (Urgam), Adibadri (Adibadri) and Bhavishya Badri (Tapovan). Another important temple is Triyugi Narain near Kedarnath where according to myth, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married.
Badrinath town is the temple of Badri Vishal or Vishnu. Established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, this temple is visited by devotees from all over the country. Badrinath is said to have got its name from wild berry or ‘badri’ with which it was carpeted in the past. There is even a myth about how Vishnu made Badrinath his home after tricking Shiva, whose original abode it was! The head priest or Raval of the temple since that time has been a Namboodri from Kerala, the home of Shankaracharya.Like the Panch Kedars, there are five temples devoted to Lord Vishnu which are called ‘Panch Badri’. These are Yoga Badri, Vridha Badri (Animath), Dhyan Badri (Urgam), Adibadri (Adibadri) and Bhavishya Badri (Tapovan). Another important temple is Triyugi Narain near Kedarnath where according to myth, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married.
Goddesses
Temples of Goddess Shakti are also present all over Uttarkhand. Some important temples of the Goddess are Kalimath, Surkanda Devi (Tehri Garhwal), Rajrajeshwari (Devalgarh-Pauri Garhwal), Jwalpa (Pauri Garhwal), Hariyali Devi (Chamoli), Haat Kalika (Pithoragarh), Punyagiri (Champawat), and Kaot Mai Bageshwar).
The Sun Temple at Katarmal
This is situated at about 20 km. from Almora on the Almora-Ranikhet motorway. It is believed to have been built by the second Katyuri king Katarmal Dev. Its high spire is visible from a distance and is considered an exquisite example of the architectural finesse achieved by the locals in the Katyuri period. This temple has been built along the lines of the Gurjar-Pratihar school of architecture. The main temple faces the east and every morning the sun’s rays appear to reach the snctum snctorum, as if paying thanks to its builders and their aesthetic sense.
The idols in the temple are sublime examples of Katyuri sculpture. The Sun God has been depicted on his chariot driven by seven horses representing it rays.
Yakshas are also worshipped and are called ‘Jakh Devta’, ancient sages are worshipped at some places, the most famous being Agastyamuni and Kanvasrama. There are temples to Duryodhana and Karna too. The Karna temple at Karnprayag is perhaps the first temple dedicated to him. The Pandavas are worshipped at many places.
Other temples worth a mention are those built in the medieval ages at Baijnath, the Gujardev temple of Dwarahat, Nandadevi temple of Almora and the Baleshwar temple of Champawat.
Naulas
Life in the hills has always been hard. The scarcity of water in hilly areas adds to this hardship and has led the people of Uttarakhand to understand the need for preservation and mindful usage of their water resources. Naulas are specific structures that highlight the awareness of our ancestors regarding the necessity of water preservation and checking its pollution. Every natural water source springing out of underground water mass is traditionally covered with a small temple-like structure, its walls bearing ornate sculpture and figures of local deities. Thus imparting these water resources with sacredness, the ingenious forefathers in Uttarakhand succeeded in preserving this precious commodity for posterity. Some famous naulas of this region re at Syunrakot, Kanikot, Mantanda, Ek-hathiya naula at Dhakna and Kapina. One thing common to most naulas is the figure of Lord Vishnu on their walls.