Pilgrimage Tours In India: The Char Dham Yatra

By Author: Noshir Lavangia
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There is no shortage of pilgrimage spots in India. From Amarnath in the north to Kanyakumari in the south to Dwarka in the west and Imphal in the east, there’s something for everyone and for every religion. So it comes as no surprise that there isn’t the least bit of shortage of pilgrimage tours in India, either. The most popular of these is the Char Dham Yatra, which gives pilgrims a taste of the entire nation from South India travel to North India travel and everything in between. Here’s a brief overview of what the Char Dham really is, for those about to embark on their own personal spiritual journeys.

1) Badrinath
Badrinath is the northernmost ‘dham’ or place in the Char Dham Yatra’s itinerary. It is located in the state of Uttarakhand among the Garhwal hills. The town of Badrinath gets its name from the Badrinath Temple, which is where the pilgrims go to seek the blessings of Lord Badrinarayan.

2) Dwarka
Dwarka, revered for being the dwelling of Lord Krishna, is located in the state of Gujarat on the banks of the Gomti River. It is the westernmost ‘dham’ of the Char Dham Yatra. ...
... The name ‘Dwarka’ is derived from the Sankrit word ‘dwar’ which means ‘opening’, more specifically ‘door’ or ‘gate’. It is legend that the entire city has been submerged due to the effect of the neighbouring sea a total of six times.

3) Jagannath Puri
The Jagannath Temple is the third and easternmost ‘dham’ of the Char Dham Yatra, located just outside the city of Puri in the Indian state of Orissa, beyond which lies the Bay of Bengal. Just like in Dwarka, the resident deity of the Jagannath Temple is Lord Krishna, only in a different incarnation. The temple is over the thousand years old and is considered to be an archetype of Kalinga and Dravidian architecture.

4) Rameswaram
The southernmost ‘dham’ of the Char Dham Yatra is Rameswaram in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located just off the Indian Peninsula in the Gulf of Mannar. Lord Rama, from the Ramayana, is the resident deity of the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is considered to be the starting point from where Lord Rama began building the bridge to Lanka, where the demon Ravana was said to hold his wife, Sita, captive.

The Char Dham Yatra traditionally begins in the east at Jagannath Puri, moving clockwise to Rameswaram, then up to Dwarka and finally culminating in Badrinath. It is the most important of pilgrimage tours in India. A Chhota Char Dham Yatra also exists, but is limited to North India travel between the four destinations of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

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Ninad Chaudhari works as a Web UI Designer / Developer with Cox & Kings. In his spare time, Ninad is an ardent photographer and loves the opportunities that pilgrimage tours give him to pursue his passion. His albums are replete with pictures of North India travel.