Introduction:

Devis and Devatas abound in India. The range is an amazing 330 million and no less! And so, now no longer surprisingly, the United States is replete with holy shrines and temples. Adorned with the remnants of the wealthy Hindu mythology, India has clusters of pilgrimages unfold throughout its massive boundaries. Amongst these, the Char Dham Yatra holds a vast spot. 

Translating the pilgrimage to the 4 abodes, the Char Dham Yatra refers back to the 4 holiest pilgrimage web websites in India, viz.Badrinath (Uttarakhand) is in the north, Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) is in the south, Puri (Odisha) is in the east, and Dwarka is in the west (Gujarat in West) However, they’re frequently pressured with the four sacred locations of Uttarakhand – the Devbhoomi. These Char Dhams – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri – are, in fact, part of the small circuit of 4 seats or the Chota Char Dham Yatra.

The Original Char Dhams

As described via way of means of the Indian logician Adi Shankaracharya, the authentic Char Dham – Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, & Rameshwaram – includes three Vaishnavite (belonging to Lord Vishnu) and 1 Shaivite pilgrimages.

Badrinath

The town of Badrinath, now on the Garhwal hills in Uttarakhand, northern India, is on the banks of the Alaknanda River, between the Nara and Narayana mountains. The main god here is Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped on his side by Badrina Rayan.

Rameshwaram

Rameswaram, located in the Gulf of Mannar in what is now Tamil Nadu in southern India, is said to be the site of Lord Rama’s construction of the Ram Setu Bridge to Sri Lanka. However, the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of a lingam by Thriller Manassaswamy. Lingam is said to be one of the twelve Jyotirlinga (shining signs of Lord Shiva).

Puri

Located in what is now Orissa, Puri is one of the oldest cities in East India. The main god of this Vaishnavite pilgrimage center is Lord Krishna, who is worshipped as Lord Jagannath. This is the only Indian shrine where Lord Krishna’s sister, Goddess Svadra, is worshipped along with her brothers, Sir Jagannath and Sir Balarama.

Dwarka

The legendary city of Dwarka, located in modern Gujarat in western India, is said to be the residence of Lord Krishna. The city is said to have been destroyed by sinking into the sea six times. Today Dwarka is said to be the seventh city built in the area.Lord Krishna is the most important divinity in this temple.

Hari & Har: The Eternal Friends

According to Hindu prana, Hari (Vishnu) and Haru (Shiva) are said to be eternal friends. Wherever Sir Vishnu lives, Lord Shiva is said to live not far from it. And these Chardams have sister cities. The Vaishnava sites of Badrinath, Rangnath Swamy, Dwarka, and Jagannath Puri are close to the Shiva sites of Kedarnath, Rameshwaram, Somnath, and Lingaraja Gupteshwar.

The Chota Char Dham Circuit

The concept of Chhota Char Dham Yatra became widespread after the 1962 Indochina War when India began investing in road and infrastructure development projects. Improved roads in the area have made it easier to access the sacred shrines of Uttarakhand and other places (formerly Uttar Pradesh). ChhotaCharDham slowly began to replace the original Chardham. 

Unlike the original Chardam, which took more than a month to cover, Charter Char Dham was able to cover within two weeks. The cost difference between the two was large. Now more people can easily go on this pilgrimage. Pilgrims can travel by bus or jeep to the nearest of the four shrines, within 10-15 km of the nearest navigable point.

Why Should You Go For Char Dham Yatra?

Surrounded by the summit of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Char Dham is the four sacred sites of Hindu pilgrimage. The four places to do Hindu pilgrimages together are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Each of these four places is a sacred place of Hinduism. It is believed that anyone who visits these sacred shrines once in a lifetime will achieve salvation and moksha.

When Is The Best Time To Do The Char Dham Yatra?

Char Dham Yatra opens on Akha Trij or Akha Teej Day (May) and closes in the winter of Bhai Dooj (two days after the Diwali Festival). However, the best way to get over the rush of early May and June and avoid blocking routes due to heavy rains in late July and August is to use Chardham Yatra in early July and September.