India is considered to be a spiritual land and is the land where the first ever religion of the World, Hinduism originated. India is known for housing several temples and holy places of Hindus and these places are thronged by pilgrims from various parts of the World. There are several Hindu pilgrimage destinations in India that spreads from north to south and east to west. Chaar Dhams defined by great Adi Shankaracharya consists Rameshwaram , Jaganath puri , Dwarka & Badrinat , are one of the most important pilgrimage places for the Hindus in India. Chaar Dham means 'the four abodes' of Lord Vishnu.
Badrinath , Uttarakhand
Badrinath is at a height of 10,400 feet above sea-level in the Garhwal Mountains, a part of the larger Himalayas, in the state of Uttarakhand .Built in early ninth century AD, the Badrinath temple is one of the most honored Hindu shrines of India. Nestled between the two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan, with the Neelkanth peak in the background, Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams of Hindu Religion, which is thronged by pilgrims from all over India. The main deity at the Badrinath temple is Shri Badrinath (Vishnu). The Badrinath temple stands in a beautiful valley on the bank of River Alakananda.
Dwarka , Gujarat
Dwarka, situated on the west coast of Gujarat on the shore of the Arabian Sea, is among the Chard Dhams of Hindu Religion. It was the place of Sri Krishna after He left Mathura, His maternal home, to come and sway here. It is said that Lord Krishna, after killing Kansa, left his abode at Mathura and travelled with the entire Yadava community to the coast of Saurashtra where he founded a town and named it Swarnadwarika. Vajranabh, Lord Krishna's successor and great grandson, is believed to have built the present temple Dwarkanath, also called Trilok Sundar. It is said that the temple was erected in one night by a supernatural agency, under Vajranabh's direction. The temple of Dwarkadheesh, also known as Jagat Mandir, is built on the north bank of the Gomti creek. The temple dates back to 2,500 years. Sixty columns support the roof of the audience hall of the Jagat Mandir. The main temple is five-storey high with the lavishly carved conical spire rising to a height of 157 feet.
Jaganath Puri , Odisha
Dedicated to Lord Jagnath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Jagnath temple is situated in Puri, which makes it one of the most sacred places for Hindus. Puri is a place in the state of Odisha, which is also popular for its beaches. The place has gained significance as a pilgrimage destination for housing the Jagnath Temple, which is also among the Char Dhams. The presiding deities of the Jaganath temple are Lord Jaganath, Subhadra, his sister and Balabhdra who was his brother. A yearly Rath Yatra is organized by the temple, which is visited by people from all over the globe.
Rameshwaram , Tamil Nadu
Situated in the Southern part of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram is among the Char Dhams. Rameshwaram is known as the Kashi of the South and is one of the revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus because it is, firstly, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and secondly, it is said in the scriptures that a pilgrimage to Varanasi to pay homage to Lord Vishwanath is incomplete without paying homage to Lord Ranganatha at Rameshwaram.
Badrinath , Uttarakhand
Badrinath is at a height of 10,400 feet above sea-level in the Garhwal Mountains, a part of the larger Himalayas, in the state of Uttarakhand .Built in early ninth century AD, the Badrinath temple is one of the most honored Hindu shrines of India. Nestled between the two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan, with the Neelkanth peak in the background, Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams of Hindu Religion, which is thronged by pilgrims from all over India. The main deity at the Badrinath temple is Shri Badrinath (Vishnu). The Badrinath temple stands in a beautiful valley on the bank of River Alakananda.
Dwarka , Gujarat
Dwarka, situated on the west coast of Gujarat on the shore of the Arabian Sea, is among the Chard Dhams of Hindu Religion. It was the place of Sri Krishna after He left Mathura, His maternal home, to come and sway here. It is said that Lord Krishna, after killing Kansa, left his abode at Mathura and travelled with the entire Yadava community to the coast of Saurashtra where he founded a town and named it Swarnadwarika. Vajranabh, Lord Krishna's successor and great grandson, is believed to have built the present temple Dwarkanath, also called Trilok Sundar. It is said that the temple was erected in one night by a supernatural agency, under Vajranabh's direction. The temple of Dwarkadheesh, also known as Jagat Mandir, is built on the north bank of the Gomti creek. The temple dates back to 2,500 years. Sixty columns support the roof of the audience hall of the Jagat Mandir. The main temple is five-storey high with the lavishly carved conical spire rising to a height of 157 feet.
Jaganath Puri , Odisha
Dedicated to Lord Jagnath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Jagnath temple is situated in Puri, which makes it one of the most sacred places for Hindus. Puri is a place in the state of Odisha, which is also popular for its beaches. The place has gained significance as a pilgrimage destination for housing the Jagnath Temple, which is also among the Char Dhams. The presiding deities of the Jaganath temple are Lord Jaganath, Subhadra, his sister and Balabhdra who was his brother. A yearly Rath Yatra is organized by the temple, which is visited by people from all over the globe.
Rameshwaram , Tamil Nadu
Situated in the Southern part of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram is among the Char Dhams. Rameshwaram is known as the Kashi of the South and is one of the revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus because it is, firstly, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and secondly, it is said in the scriptures that a pilgrimage to Varanasi to pay homage to Lord Vishwanath is incomplete without paying homage to Lord Ranganatha at Rameshwaram.