Char Dham Yatra

A sacred tour of Char Dham is delightful for every Hindu Devotee, who is in search of spiritual connection. Char Dham Yatra giving you new experiences of life. People believe that Char Dham Yatra is all about Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Gangotri. But, a holy journey of these shrines is called Chota Char Dham, which is nestled in the lap of Himalaya and known as sacred places as per Hindu religion. Bada Char Dham includes Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameshwaram, and these four abodes are present in the four directions of the country. It is believed that everyone should do Char Dham Yatra once in a lifetime to get a blessing from God. The Chota Char Dham is also referred to as Char Dham of Uttarakhand, whereas a tour or visit to the four shrines in all four directions of the country is called Bada Char Dham. If you want to get a deep dive into the Char Dham Yatra then keep reading. Here, you will get the know about the name and places of Char Dham Yatra and its value, history, and opening & closing of door timings.

1. Badrinath

It is one of the most sacred towns in the Hindu religion which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and situated in the Chamoli district. Badrinath temple is located at a height of 10,279 ft. It is the only temple among the four Char Dham which is nestled in the Himalayas and encircled by snow-clad mountains. Badrinath is nestled between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges in the shadow of the Nilkantha peak. Badrinath amazes you in every moment with its turquoise lakes, holy ponds, and water bodies.

History

As per Hindu belief, Badrinath came to light when Nar-Narayan, an avatar of Lord Vishnu did Tapasya there. At that time, this place was full of berry trees, and in the Sanskrit language, Berries means Badri. This place was named as Badrika-Van due to plenty of Berries trees. Badrinath temple is a particular spot where Nar-Narayan did Tapasya, and a large berry tree saved him from rain and sun.

Local people believe that Mata Lakshmi became a tree to save Lord Narayan. After completing the Tapasya, Narayana said people will always take her name before him. Hence we always refer to Lakshmi-Narayan. All these happened in Satya Yuga, and therefore it is considered the first Dham. It comes in both circuits of Chota Char Dham yatra and Bada Char Dham Yatra. The meaning of Badrinath is Lord of Berry forest.

Why Visit

Badrinath is a source of the holy Alaknanda River. You can behold the charm of this divine shrine as it offers traditional Garhwali wooden architecture. A 3.3 ft tall statue of Lord Badrinarayan at the entrance of the temple is one of the main attractions in Badrinath Temple that is made of black stone (Saligram stone). The image is supposed to have Vishnu in the dual form of Nara and Narayan.

This temple is mentioned in sacred texts such as Bhagavata Purana, Skanda Purana, and Bhagvat Geeta.

You can witness the Neelkantha, which is named after Lord Shiva, and he was sitting in meditation from a distance of peak. It is also famous as the Garhwal Queen. Neelkanth receives the first ray of sun that shines in the valley. A trip to Badrinath also exudes spirituality through nature, and areas nearby Badrinath, like Charanpaduka, Vasudhara falls, Bheem Pul, Brahma Kapal give you matchless experiences. Badrinath is home to beauty, serenity, and natural wonders that will win your heart, relax your soul and delight the senses.

2. Dwarka

Dwarka is widely known as the city of Lord Krishna, a hub of Ancient temples and beautiful beaches. This temple town is settled on the bank of the Gomti River at the western land in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is one of the most significant sacred destinations in India. Being one of the sacred shrines in the Bada Char Dham Circuit, this holy place is soaked in spirituality. The aura of Dwarka attracts thousands of devotees from every corner of the world to indulge in holy worship. The mix of reality and myth surely leave you on a spiritual high. The spiritual, historical, and legendary past of this city offers fascinating stories and attractions for devotees.

History

Dwarka has a significant place in the history of India. In earlier times, it was recognized as Swaravati or Kushasthali and was a great kingdom situated at the shoreline of Saurashtra. It is said that around 1500 BC, Lord Krishna left Mathura after killing Kansa and established the golden city of Dwarka on the banks of River Gomati. It is also considered that after the death of Lord Krishna, an extensive flood came into the sea and the city got sunken under the water. The Archeologist and historians believe that Dwarka has submerged in the sea six times and the present-day Dwarka is the seventh such city to be built in the area.

Why Visit

The city of Lord Krishna equally embraces everyone whether you are a pilgrim, or adventurer, or peace lover. A visit to Dwarka for the Char Dham yatra offers you an intriguing mix of attractions that includes, captivating beaches, narrow lanes crisscrossing colorful markets, sacred lakes, and the stunning Gujarat coastline. You can explore the Beyt Dwarka, an island, and it is believed that it is the focal point for many events surrounding Lord Krishna’s life. Get ready to witness the architectural marvel of ancient times, Yes we are talking about Dwarkadhish Temple, which is one of the most sacred sites in the country.

It is believed that this Five Storey -temple was built by the Vajranabha( The great grandson of Lord Krishna). If you are a bird nature lover, you can spend some time at beaches and witness majestic winged creatures like Demoiselle Cranes and other migratory birds. Take a tour to Dunny Point, a hidden gem of Dwarka that will mesmerize you with the richness of marine biodiversity and corals along the Gujarat coast.

3. Puri

It is one of the most popular and holy cities of Odisha. This city is well known for the veneration of Jagganath, which is one of many names of Lord Krishna. It is famous for being the only holy place that has the most prominent goddesses like Lakshmi, Durga, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti. The chariot festival is celebrated in Puri, and it is also called Rath yatra. This Chariot Procession is being taken from the famed Jagannath Temple to Shri Gundicha Temple and covered a 3 km distance. The fascinating thing which makes Puri more enchanting is Govardhan Matha, which is one of the four mathas discovered by Adi Shankaracharya in the four directions of India.

History

In the past, Puri was not the name of this holy place. It was Charitra, as stated by a Chinese pilgrim, but there is room for doubt and speculation with interpretation. At the time, when Chodaganga Deva built the temple of Purusottama Jagannath with leading idol Lord Krishna as Jagannath with his Brother and Sister, the place came to light as Purushottam Kshetra or Purushottam Puri. The name got shortened, and today it is well known as Puri. From the British to the Mughal region, the Puri has seen many changes. The Rath Yatra is one of the oldest and most crowded chariot processions held in respect of Jagganath.

Why Visit

Puri is the ideal destination to connect with nature while exploring the old temples that give cheerful feelings. From wandering travelers to nature lovers, this holy place is a gem for everyone that offers many opportunities to explore the beauty, art and natural wonders. You can enjoy picnic time with your family at the most popular beaches of puri. Swargadwar and Puri Beach, where you will unwind yourself and give yourself relaxation.

Experience the dynamic sunrise and sunset at Chilka Lake, and enjoy birdwatching. Jagannath Temple is one of the eye-catching temples that will give you spiritual ambiance and after visiting the temple, you can spend your time at Puri Beach that offers delicious foods and breezy shores. You can visit Raghuraj Artist Village to know about the tradition and culture of Odisha. See the crafts like palm leaf engravings, stone, wood carvings, Tussar paintings, and wooden masks. Exploring Bhubaneswar will surely give you unforgettable memories that you can cherish for a lifetime. If you want to get in close with the architectural arts and marvel, Konark is just the finest place for you.

4. Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram is one of the most sacred places of India that embraces followers of Lord Shiva from everywhere to visit the Jyotirlinga installed in the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Settled in Ramanathapuram district, the town is a fraction of Pamban Island and is also identified as Rameshwaram Island staying connected with the legendary temple, which is formed in the spectacular Dravidian style of architecture. The island is settled at the point of the Indian peninsula and linked to the Indian mainland by Pamban Bridge on Pamban Channel in the Gulf of Mannar.

History

Rameshwaram Temple is the center of attraction of this town for every person who follows Hinduism, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord Rama started his journey to get his wife Sita back from the king of Lanka Ravana. Lord Rama was helped by the ‘Vaanar Sena’, it was an army of legendary monkey-humans, which was served by Hanumana, the Paramount devotee of Lord Rama.

It is also said that Rama and Sita installed Shiva Lingam to worship Lord Shiva as a part of penance for Brahmahatya (killing of Brahmana). Ravana was also a staunch follower of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Rameshwaram temple which is built in the 12th century has the same Shiva Lingam.

Why Visit

Visiting Rameshwaram is all about indulging in religious vibes and attractions that will blow your mind. The foremost attraction in Rameshwaram is the Panch-Mukhi Hanuman Temple. Lord Hanuman, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Narasimha, Lord Hayagriva, and Lord Garuda are the five faces that were shown by Lord Hanuman at this temple. The most captivating thing about this temple is that you can witness floating stones used for building temporary Sethu Bandhanam to arrive in Lanka. 17th-century architectural excellence also attracts travelers around the country.

You can visit Jada Thirtham as this place has its significance. It is believed that it is a place where Rama worshiped Shiva Linga after killing Ravana and the giant bird Jatayu passed away while trying to save Goddess Sita from Ravana. Explore Ram Setu bridge, which is a historical bridge that connects Rameshwaram island of India to the coast of Sri Lanka. Rameshwaram is not just about religious places, it has more things to offer you in the form of Bird Sanctuary and sun-splashed Beaches.