A Beginner's Guide to Char Dham

Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram are the four Hindu pilgrimage sites that make up the Char Dham, also known as the Chatur Dhama. Numerous Hindus think that going to these locations can help in obtaining moksha,(forgiveness or relief).

According to Adi Shankaracharya (686–717 CE), four Hindu pilgrimage locations make up the Char Dham. Vishnu's shrines are these primary 'dhamas', and Shiva's shrine is Rameshwaram.

Four epochs are connected to all of the "dhamas."

• Dham of Satyuga :- Badrinath, Uttarakhand

• Dham of tretayuga :- Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

• Dham of Dwaparayuga :- Dwarka, Gujarat

• Dham of Kaliyuga :- Jagannatha Puri, Odisha

What is Char Dham Yatra?

We speak of Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram as the four dams. Each of these locations has a unique charm. They are not only profoundly spiritual and religious, but they are also amazing destinations for tourism. For instance, Badrinath is a stunning hill town in Uttarakhand, while Puri is a coastal resort in Odisha. Here are some details regarding the Indian Char Dham travel places.

Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is home to Badrinath, which is located in the north. It is located on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal hills. The town is situated in the shadow of Nilkantha Peak (6,560 m) and between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges.

Within 3 kilometers of Badrinathjee are several other fascinating tourist destinations, including Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund, and the Saraswati River's Mukh. 

Situated on the hillsides above the meeting point of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers is Joshimath. Joshimath is the winter residence of Chardham, one of the four Maths founded by Adi Shankaracharya.

The three other Dhams are available all year round, but Badrinath Dham is only accessible to pilgrims for darshan from April to October.

Other locations that could be offered in addition to this one include the origins of two significant Indian rivers, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Gangotri Yamunotri. In addition, we might go to nearby locations such as Brahma Kapal Ghat, the Valley of Flowers, Vasundhara Falls, and Mata Murti Temple Mandir.

 

Both the air railway and the road can take us to Badrinath. The Jolly Grant Airport is located close to Dehradun. However, since helicopter service reduced the distance to just a few hundred kilometers, it is usually offered.

 

The closest station is in Rishikesh, followed by Kotdwar. Road 58 is the one used to get to Badrinath. Regular bus services are also available to transport passengers from Rishikesh station to Badrinath.

Dwarka, Gujarat

On the western coast of India, in the state of Gujarat, is where you can locate Dwarka. The word "dvara" (meaning door or gate in Sanskrit) is where the city gets its name. It is situated at the point where the Arabian Sea and the Gomti River converge. The Gomti River, a tributary of the Ganga River, is not the same as this river. The city is located in India's westernmost region. 

Krishna lived in what is known as the legendary city of Dvārakā. The prevailing consensus is that Dvārakā had drowned six times as a result of devastation and destruction by the sea; the current city of Dwarka is the seventh such city to be founded in the region.

Within this city is also the b. One of Lord Shiva's twelve shrines, the Nageswara Jyotirlinga, is located not far from this city. The Dwarka Pitha, one of the four Mathas, resides in Dwarka together with Puri, Jyotirmath, and Sringeri. The Lord at this temple is dressed in Kalyana Kolam, which is the royal family's equivalent of a bridal gown. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams.

Jagannath Puri, Orissa

Puri is situated in the Indian state of Odisha. Situated on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, this city is among the oldest in the country's eastern region. The primary deity, revered as Lord Jagannatha, is Shri Krishna. It is the only shrine in India where the goddess Subhadra, who is worshipped alongside her brothers, Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balabhadra, is the sister of Lord Krishna. 

About a millennium ago, Raja Choda Ganga Deva and Raja Tritiya Ananga Bhima Deva built this major temple. The Govardhana Matha, one of Adi Shankaracharya's four cardinal institutions, or Mathas, is located in Puri.

In this instance, Jagannath is considered to be Vishnu, Balabhadra to be Maheswara, and Subhadra to be Brahma. Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara are all present together everywhere. In this Dham, Oriya people celebrate a unique day called Ratha Yatra, ("Chariot Festival").

Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Located in the southern region of the Indian peninsula is the state of Tamil Nadu, home to Rameswaram. Legend has it that this is the location where Rama, his brother Lakshmana, and devotee Hanuman constructed the Rama Setu bridge to cross across to Lanka and save his wife Sita, who had been kidnapped earlier by the Lankan king Ravana. 

A large portion of Rameswaram is devoted to the Shiva-focused Ramanathaswamy Temple. It is thought that Rama dedicated the temple. For Hindus, a journey to Benaras would be completed without a stop at Rameswaram, so the town holds great significance. Here, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Sri Ramanatha Swamy, is the presiding deity in the form of a Linga.

It is thought that Lord Rama worshipped the two lingams of the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva. Ramalingam and Vishwalingam are the given names of the 2 lingams. Although it is thought that Devi Sita constructed Ramalingam, Lord Hanuman is credited with bringing the Viswalingam to this location from Kailasa.

Best Hotels Near Char Dham

Sarovar Portico

Sarovar Portico is one of the greatest hotels in Badrinath and has been rated as such. This amazing hotel was constructed at a height of 10,000 feet. It is only a half-kilometer from the main temple. From the hotel, one can see the gorgeous surroundings.

Hotel Narayan Palace

Hotel Narayan Palace is the next greatest hotel in Badrinath. This hotel, however, continued to meet expectations. The services are adequate and of high quality. This hotel, like others, features a central heating system and 24-hour hot water service.

Mayfair Beach Resort

Puri's best hotel is said to be Mayfair Beach Resort. The hotel, along with its services and staff, is regarded as the best in Puri. The hotel is about three kilometers away from the Jagannath temple, and it only takes forty minutes to drive to the Konark temple from here.

Govardhan Green Resort

One of the greatest hotels in Dwarka is the Govardhan Green Resort. Not only is the hotel excellent, but it also serves the best meals around. Above all, the hotel offered excellent hospitality and a very comfortable stay.