Char Dham sacred pilgrimage temples of India

चार धाम

Char Dham Yatra

The four sacred abodes that mark the corners of Bharat — a pilgrimage that liberates the soul.

Sacred Dhams

States

30 Lakh+

Pilgrims Annually

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The Four Corners of Dharma

The Char Dham — four sacred abodes established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century — represent the four cardinal directions of India. A pilgrimage to all four is believed to cleanse a lifetime of sins and grant moksha.

Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Puri in the east, and Rameshwaram in the south — together they form a sacred circuit that unites the entire subcontinent in devotion.

उत्तर · North

↑ 3,133 m

बद्रीनाथ

Badrinath

Lord Vishnu (Badri Narayan)

One of the 108 Divya Desams and the most sacred Vaishnava shrine in the Himalayas. Lord Vishnu is worshipped here as Badri Narayan in a meditative posture.

Darshan Timings

4:30 AM – 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM (May–Nov)

Best Season

May to June, September to November

Location

Chamoli, Uttarakhand

How to Reach

Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun (317 km). Nearest railhead: Haridwar (295 km). Road: NH-58 via Rishikesh–Joshimath.

Special Puja:Abhishek, Maha Abhishek, Vishnu Sahasranama Path

पश्चिम · West

द्वारका

Dwarka

Lord Krishna (Dwarkadhish)

The legendary kingdom of Lord Krishna, submerged and rebuilt multiple times. The Dwarkadhish temple stands as a testament to Krishna's divine rule over this ancient city.

Darshan Timings

6:30 AM – 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Best Season

October to March

Location

Dwarka, Gujarat

How to Reach

Nearest airport: Jamnagar (137 km). Nearest railhead: Dwarka Railway Station (1 km). Road: Well connected via NH-947.

Special Puja:Panchamrit Abhishek, Rajbhog Aarti, Sandhya Aarti

पूर्व · East

पुरी

Puri

Lord Jagannath (Vishnu)

Home of Lord Jagannath — Lord of the Universe. The annual Rath Yatra chariot festival draws millions. The temple kitchen is said to feed 10,000 pilgrims daily.

Darshan Timings

5:00 AM – 11:00 PM (multiple darshan slots)

Best Season

October to February; June–July for Rath Yatra

Location

Puri, Odisha

How to Reach

Nearest airport: Biju Patnaik International, Bhubaneswar (60 km). Nearest railhead: Puri Railway Station (2 km). Road: NH-316 from Bhubaneswar.

Special Puja:Mangala Aarti, Mailam, Abakash, Bhog Mandap

दक्षिण · South

रामेश्वरम्

Rameshwaram

Lord Shiva (Ramanathaswamy)

Where Lord Rama worshipped Shiva before crossing to Lanka. The temple has the longest corridor of any Hindu temple in India and 22 sacred theerthams (holy wells).

Darshan Timings

5:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Best Season

October to April

Location

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

How to Reach

Nearest airport: Madurai (174 km). Nearest railhead: Rameswaram Railway Station (1 km). Road: NH-87 via Madurai, connected by Pamban Bridge.

Special Puja:Thiruvanandal, Ucchi Kala Puja, Arthamandapam Puja

Planning Your Char Dham Yatra

Ideal Order

Traditionally start from Badrinath (north) and proceed clockwise — Badrinath → Dwarka → Rameshwaram → Puri. Many pilgrims complete all four over 15–20 days.

Best Time

October–November is ideal for all four dhams. Badrinath is only accessible May–November; the other three are open year-round.

Registration

Badrinath requires online registration via the Uttarakhand government portal during peak season. Carry a valid photo ID for all dhams.

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