Chardham Yatra

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Author: 
Leon Efimov
Runtime: 
0:09:48

Char Dham (literally: 'the four abodes/seats') are the names of four pilgrimage places in India that are widely revered by most of the Hindus: Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, and Rameshwaram. 
The Char Dham defined by Adi Shankaracharya consists of three Vaishnavite, one Shaivite, and one mixed site. Over the years, the term "Char Dham" has lent itself to the all-denomination Char Dham pilgrimages in the Garhwal Himalayas, where Adi Shankaracharya attained freedom from embodiment. Earlier known as Chota Char Dham or 'Little' Char Dham to differentiate them from the bigger circuit of Char Dham sites, after the mid-20th century they themselves started being called the Char Dham.[2] Today, the term "Char Dham" usually refers to the all-denomination Himalayan Char Dham. The Char Dham are often considered the most revered sites for Hindus that have to be visited in one's lifetime.