Sacred Circuit • All India

Char Dham

The four sacred abodes of God at the four cardinal points of India — a pilgrimage circuit that spans the subcontinent and spans a lifetime.

2

Distinct Circuits

8

Sacred Sites

3M+

Annual Pilgrims

4,000+ km

Full Circuit

Char Dham pilgrimage
What is Char Dham?

Two Circuits, One Sacred Vision

The term "Char Dham" (char = four, dham = abode/home) refers to two distinct but related pilgrimage circuits. The original Char Dham was identified by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE — four temples at the four geographical extremities of India representing the four directions: Badrinath (north), Dwarka (west), Rameshwaram (south) and Jagannath Puri (east). Completing this circuit was considered the supreme pilgrimage of a lifetime.

The Chota Char Dham (Small Char Dham) refers specifically to four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — which form the most popular seasonal pilgrimage circuit in north India, drawing over three million pilgrims between May and November each year.

Adi Shankaracharya Four Directions Moksha Pilgrimage Vaishnava Circuit
The Original Four

Char Dham — Four Corners of India

The four dhams identified by Adi Shankaracharya, one at each cardinal point of the subcontinent — a circuit connecting every region of India through devotion.

Badrinath North Dham

Badrinath

📍 Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Lord Vishnu's Himalayan abode between the Nar and Narayan ranges — the northernmost sacred site in India.

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Dwarka West Dham

Dwarka

📍 Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gujarat

Krishna's legendary kingdom at the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula — the western gateway of the original Char Dham.

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Jagannath Puri East Dham

Jagannath Puri

📍 Puri, Odisha

Lord of the Universe on the Bay of Bengal — home of the world-famous Rath Yatra chariot festival.

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Rameshwaram South Dham

Rameshwaram

📍 Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

The southernmost Jyotirlinga on Pamban Island — established by Rama himself after his victory over Lanka.

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Himalayan Circuit

Chota Char Dham — The Himalayan Yatra

The four sacred Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand — open May to November, this circuit is the most-walked high-altitude pilgrimage in the world.

Yamunotri 1st Stop

Yamunotri

📍 Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

Source of the sacred Yamuna — accessible only by a 5 km trek from Janki Chatti. The traditional starting point.

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Gangotri 2nd Stop

Gangotri

📍 Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

Where the Ganga descended to earth — gateway to the Gangotri Glacier and the Gaumukh source trek.

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Kedarnath 3rd Stop

Kedarnath

📍 Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

The highest Jyotirlinga at 3,583 m — accessible by trek or helicopter, open May to November.

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Badrinath 4th Stop

Badrinath

📍 Chamoli, Uttarakhand

The final dham — Lord Vishnu's abode at 3,133 m, the end point of the Himalayan Char Dham Yatra.

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Plan Your Yatra

Char Dham Travel Guide

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Chota Char Dham Season

May to November — exact opening dates announced on Akshaya Tritiya (April–May). All four shrines close with snowfall, typically by Diwali (October–November).

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Traditional Order

Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath (west to east). The original Char Dham has no fixed order but north → west → south → east is traditional.

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Registration

Mandatory Devasthanam Board registration for Chota Char Dham Yatra — register online at the official portal before travelling. Medical fitness certificate required for Kedarnath.

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Helicopter Services

Helicopter services operate to Kedarnath (from Sonprayag/Phata/Sirsi) and can be booked at Badrinath. Book months ahead — limited seats sell out quickly.

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Time Required

Chota Char Dham: minimum 10–12 days by road; 7–8 days using helicopter for Kedarnath. Original Char Dham circuit: 3–4 weeks including travel between the four cities.

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Budget Guide

Chota Char Dham budget trip: ₹15,000–25,000 per person (shared taxis, dharamshalas). With helicopter to Kedarnath add ₹5,000–9,000 per leg. Original Char Dham: ₹30,000–60,000+ depending on transport.