Hello explorers! How are you all? I hope you are well and safe, exploring the beauty of nature all around you.
If you are an Indian then you must have heard about Char Dham from your elders. But have you ever heard about Chhota Char Dham?
Or have you ever visited Chhota Char Dham?
As I had also heard from my grandmother, Chhota Char Dham is in Uttarakhand, which consists of a small series of abodes (houses) of our deities. This series includes four sites which are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath and each site has its own significance in our Hindu religion.
Do you want to bring good luck?
Well, you can visit these places in April or May as these months mark the beginning of Chhota Char Dham Yatra and end two days after Diwali, on the day of Bhai-Beej (or Bhai Dooj). Tourists come here in large numbers in May and June.
Must Visit Divine Mandirs In Uttrakhand
Want to see sites unique in their own way? Chhota Char Dham has representatives from all three major Hindu traditions.
- Shakta (Goddess) Places, (Yamunotri and Gangotri),
- A Shaiva Site (Kedarnath) and
- A Vaishnav Place (Badrinath).
You can explore all three main Hindu sects by visiting Chhota Char Dham.
So, let’s explore the beauty of these sites and you will be excited to visit them.
Chhota Char Dham: Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri And Yamunotri
1. Yamunotri Dham
Want a timely death? Don’t you want to say goodbye to the world before your death is written?
You all must be familiar with the name of the Yamuna River. But do you know the source of the Yamuna River?
This is Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarkashi. Here, you can see the temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and the sacred thermal springs at Janaki Chatti which is 7 km away from the temple.
And in case you don’t know, Yamuna is the second most sacred river after Ganga. If you take a dip in the Yamuna river, it is said that it saves you from untimely death.
Here you will also find a stunning landscape with snowy peaks, glaciers, and hot springs where you can relax.
2. Gangotri Dham
Want to free your soul from the cycle of rebirth or want to wash away your sins committed in present and past lives?
Gangotri Dham is a Hindu pilgrimage town situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi which is the origin of river Ganga.
Here, you will find a stone near the river where King Bhagiratha had performed penance to Shiva to bring Ganga to earth and attain salvation from the sins of his ancestors.
And, according to another legend, the Pandavas performed the great ‘Deva Yagya’ here to avenge the death of their relatives in the epic war of Mahabharata.
3. Kedarnath
Do you know of a river whose water, no matter what it looks like, will always remain the purest?
This is Ganga And, Kedarnath is the place where Shiva released the sacred water of Ganga from his matted hair, resulting in the formation of the river Ganga.
You cannot visit Kedarnath temple during the winter months as it remains closed for six months from November to April due to heavy snowfall.
And if you like trekking, this is the site you will enjoy the most with the beautiful environment and views there.
4. Badrinath
Badrinath is also the gateway to many journeys or adventures leading to the mountains like Neelkanth.
Here you will see Lord Vishnu in the form of Badrinath sitting in Padmasana posture in the temple. According to some legends, Vishnu was criticized by sage Narada, who saw Vishnu’s consort Lakshmi massaging his feet.
And then, Lord Vishnu went to Badrinath to perform penance by meditating for a long time in Padmasana.
In Short
The spiritual air of a temple situated on a mountain is more refreshing. If you want to escape from your daily hectic lifestyle, then Chhota Char Dham is perfect for you to find some peace.
Explore these sites and uncover your divine self.
And don’t forget to share your experiences with me.
