Char Dham Yatra is one of the most revered and spiritually significant pilgrimages in Hinduism. These four sacred sites Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram are situated in the four cardinal directions of India, symbolizing the universality and all-encompassing nature of the divine.

The Char Dham pilgrimage was created by Adi Shankaracharya during the 8th century CE to spiritually unify the nation and encourage pilgrimage in various regions. Each dham is the site of a particular deity and symbolizes a distinctive form of Sanatan Dharma.

Badrinath (North) – The Home of Lord Vishnu
Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath lies in the Garhwal Himalayas at a height of 3100 meters. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Badrinarayan incarnation, who is believed to have performed penance here under the canopy of a Badri tree. The temple is open from April/May to October. Legend has it that Adi Shankaracharya found a black stone image of Vishnu in Alaknanda River and installed it here.
Badrinath represents protection and spiritual realization by devotion and knowledge.

Dwarka (West) – The Kingdom of Lord Krishna
Dwarka is situated on the western coast of Gujarat and is believed to have been the capital city of Lord Krishna after he migrated from Mathura. The city is located along the Arabian Sea and is one of the Sapta Puri The city is said to have sunk in the sea. The present temple, constructed more than 2,000 years ago, has elaborate carvings and a five-story high tower.

Puri (East) – The Sacred Seat of Lord Jagannath
Situated in the eastern state of Odisha, Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is a very old and important pilgrimage center in India and is famous for hosting the world-renowned Rath Yatra. The 12th-century Jagannath Temple was constructed by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. Lord Jagannath is worshipped together with Balabhadra (Balaram) and Subhadra.

Rameswaram (South) – The Sacred Jyotirlinga of Shiva
Situated on Pamban Island in the state of Tamil Nadu, Rameswaram is a connection between North and South India's religious traditions. The place is identified with Lord Rama, who prayed to Shiva here before constructing the bridge to Lanka to save Sita. The Ramanathaswamy Temple is the central temple, which contains one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple boasts of the longest corridor in any Hindu temple, running more than 1,200 meters.