Char Dham : Four most sacred Hindu temples in India

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The four Hindu major pilgrim centres in India are Puri (Odisha), Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka (Gujarat) and Badrinath (Uttarakhand).

The holy shrines are located at four cardinal points in India and is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temple once in their lifetime.



Rameshwaram temple



Dwaraka temple



Badrinath temple : Hindu pilgrim centre (bus from Rishikesh, 300 km, 12 hour, 3100 m), hot springs : Taptakund and Surya kund (55⁰C), from temple steps leads to Charan paduka. The last village Mana is at 3 km. Vyas gupha : cave, trek to Vasudhara falls via Bhim pul (5 km, 122 m water fall at 3658 m).

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Chotta Char Dham Yatra includes the holy shrines of Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Yamnotri (140 km from Mussoorie) : Source of river Yamuna, Surya kund (88^oC) hot spring and temple.

How to Reach

Bus Hanumanchatti, the road head for Yamunotri is connected by bus services of Samyukt Rotation Yatayat Vyavastha Samiti to Rishikesh, Haridwar and other major centres in the region.

Important Road Distances : Dehradun - Yamunotri is 172 km. Rishikesh to Yamunotri 222 km via Narendranagar. Dharasu 107 km; Tehri 149 km. Hanumanchatti (trek to Dodi Tal 3,307 m starts) to Phoolchatti 5 km, Jankichatti 3 km (thermal springs), Yamunotri 6 km. (14 km trek is covered on foot or on ponies from Hanumanchatti). Palanquins and Porters are also available on hire.



Gangotri temple : Located 120 km from Yamnotri.



Kedarnath temple : Hindu pilgrim centre near Badrinath (180 km, 3584 m, 13 km trek from Gaurikund - hot springs, May to Oct), jyotirlinga, Shankaracharya samadhi, Chaukamba glacier (2 km), Vasuki tal lake (4200m, 5 km , 2 km in dia.), trekking, wild flowers .



Rishikesh to Kedarnath 223 km, via Deoprayag 70 km, Shrinagar 35 km, Rudraprayag 34 km, Tilwara 9 km, Agastyamuni 10 km, Kund 15 km, Sonprayag 3 km Gaurikund 5 km, Rambara 7 km, Garurchatti 4 km, Sri Kedarnath 3 km.