In Indian geography, Badrinath town in Uttarakhand is situated on the bank of which river?

Introduction / Context:
Badrinath is one of the most famous pilgrimage towns in the Himalayas and appears frequently in Indian geography and general knowledge exams. Knowing the river on which an important town stands helps in understanding regional drainage patterns, pilgrim routes, and the relationship between settlements and rivers in mountain environments. This question tests recall of a specific fact plus basic awareness of the river system that feeds into the Ganga basin.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The location of interest is Badrinath town in Uttarakhand. • The question asks about the name of the river on whose bank Badrinath is situated. • All the options are important Indian rivers that flow in or near the Himalayan region. • We assume the standard school geography description of Badrinath and its setting.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the identification of Badrinath as a town on one of the headwater tributaries of the Ganga river system. Badrinath lies in the Garhwal Himalayas and is associated with the Alaknanda River, which is one of the two main headstreams of the Ganga, the other being the Bhagirathi. The approach is simple recall, supported by understanding that many religious centres in Uttarakhand are positioned along specific rivers such as Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Mandakini.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand includes Badrinath along with Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Step 2: From basic geography and pilgrimage descriptions, Badrinath is repeatedly described as located on the bank of the Alaknanda River in Chamoli district. Step 3: Check the options. Alaknanda River appears as one of the choices, along with Mandakini, Sutlej, Bhagirathi and Narmada. Step 4: Mandakini is associated with Kedarnath, not Badrinath. Sutlej flows mainly in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Bhagirathi is linked with Gangotri, while Narmada flows in central India. Step 5: Since standard references link Badrinath specifically to the Alaknanda River, we select Alaknanda River as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify this by checking any reliable atlas or geography text which mentions Badrinath as a town on the bank of Alaknanda in the Garhwal Himalayas. Another quick check is to remember that the confluence at Devprayag, where Alaknanda meets Bhagirathi, is considered the formal start of the Ganga. Badrinath is located upstream along Alaknanda, not on Bhagirathi. Pilgrimage guides and tourism material also consistently describe Badrinath as situated on the left or right bank of the Alaknanda River.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mandakini River: This river is associated with Kedarnath temple, not Badrinath. Confusing the two shrines is a common mistake. Sutlej River: Sutlej flows mainly through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and is not the river beside Badrinath in Uttarakhand. Bhagirathi River: This river is associated with Gangotri town and the Gangotri glacier region, not with Badrinath. Narmada River: Narmada flows in central India across Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and has no connection with Badrinath in the Himalayas.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often mix up Mandakini and Alaknanda because both rivers flow in Uttarakhand and are part of religious circuits. Another pitfall is assuming that any major Himalayan pilgrimage site must be on Bhagirathi or on the main Ganga rather than on tributaries like Alaknanda. Memorising the correct river temple pairs for the four major shrines helps avoid confusion in such questions.

Final Answer:
Therefore, in Indian geography, Badrinath town in Uttarakhand is situated on the bank of the Alaknanda River.