Chardham Yatra

Hindus are the one of the most pious people on Earth, who believe in their religion and often abide by its rituals to impress the Lords. They all are also keen about leaving the earth to attain nirvana, get rid of their sins, and also from the clutches of rebirth.

For them the Chardham Yatra is a sacred and religious journey to the four corners of the country that will free them of all their sins. The Char Dhams include Badrinath, Puri, Ramareswaram and Dwarka. The right way to undertake the Yatra is moving in a clockwise direction like a parikrama. It has to begin with the west most places Dwarka, followed by Badrinath and Puri; and concluding at Ramareswaram.

Starting with Dwarka, the place is located in the state of Gujarat, and closely connected with the River Gomti that merges into the Gulf of Kutch. It believed to be the dwelling of Lord Krishna and is considered to be one of the seven holiest cities of the country.

Next in line is Badrinath in the state of Uttarakhand, on the banks of the river Alaknanda. The place is scared to Lord Vishnu. When Vishnu was reprimanded by Narad for indulging in worldly pleasures, he came here for penance. Even today, reaching the place can be quiet tricky. The snowy mountains that surround it, keep the temperatures low, and the winter snow may even block the roads and treks up to the Badrinath Temple.

Puri comes next, and is situated in the state of Orissa. It is most famous for the Jagannath Temple, and the Rath Yatra that carries Lord Jagannath and his siblings to the sea and back. Jagannath is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is highly revered by all Hindus.

Last comes Ramareswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu. Situated on a small island on the tip of the country, this is the place where Lord Ram prayed to Lord Shiva to absolve him for all sins that he committed against Ravana..