Char Dham Yatra
Badrinath: Perched in the northern region of India, in the state of Uttarakhand, Badrinath lies in the middle of Garhwal hills, on the banks of River Alaknanada. A sacred town Badrinath has been mentioned in Hindu scriptures and legends and is a sacred pilgrimage site for Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu). The temple of Badrinath is the main temple of the town and is related to a legend which says that Lord Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan here in the Alaknanda River. He enshrined the stone image in a cave near Tapt Kund hot springs. Later in the 16th century, the King of Garhwal moved the idol to the present temple. ÂDwarka: Located in the western part of India in Gujarat, Dwarka city is close to Gomti River famed for being the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. Char Dham tour packages are incomplete without any of its four axes however a visit to Dwarka is of utmost importance for the worshipers of Lord Krishna. The Dwarkadheesh Temple is the most pious site which you must visit while in the vicinity. The city believed to be built by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect houses this temple made of limestone and sand. The Aarti ceremony in the evening here is a splendid scene not to be missed while on the pilgrimage tour to Char Dham.
Jagannath Puri: Located in East India in the state of Orissa, Jagannath Puri is a quaint coastal town renowned for all the religious reasons. It is the only shrine in India, where Goddesss Radha is worshiped along with Lord Krishna. The main temple of Jagannath is situated on the beach and is about 900 years old. Â
Rameshwaram: The temple town situated in South India, Rameshwaram forms the fourth site of Char Dham Yatra. As per the legend the main temple is built on the spot where Lord Rama had built a Ram Setu bridge. Lord Shiva is worshiped here in the form of Sri Ramanatha Swamy. The temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (shrine of Lord Shiva where he is worshipped in the form of Linga). Â
The pilgrimage is considered very sacred by Hindus and all devout Hindus want to perform this pilgrimage once in a lifetime. Once they wash away their sins in these pious shrines in front of their deities they are more likely to attain Nirvana. Thus a tranquilizing Char Dham Yatra is one for a lifetime.