The Char Dham, or four abodes, are Badrinath in the Himalaya, Dwarka on the Arabian Sea, Puri on the Bay of Bengal and Rameswaram near India's southern tip. In popular tradition the grouping is associated with Adi Shankaracharya, and the four sites are often called the Bada (great) Char Dham.
Three of the dhams are Vaishnava (Badrinath, Dwarka and Puri) and one is Shaiva (Rameswaram). Because they are thousands of kilometres apart, most pilgrims visit them over several trips, though some combine all four in two to three weeks using flights.
Quick answer
The Char Dham of India are Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Dwarka (Gujarat), Jagannath Puri (Odisha) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu). They are different from the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, which covers Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Badrinath is open only from about April or May to November; the other three are open all year. Most pilgrims visit them over several trips.
Key takeaways
- The four dhams are Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram.
- Only Badrinath is common to both the national and the Uttarakhand Char Dham.
- Badrinath is seasonal; the other three are open all year.
- Puri's Jagannath temple admits only Hindus, according to its rules.
- All four in one trip takes about two to three weeks with flights.
The four dhams
| Dham | Direction | Deity | State | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badrinath | North | Vishnu as Badri Narayan | Uttarakhand | About April or May to November |
| Dwarka | West | Krishna as Dwarkadhish | Gujarat | All year; October to March is cooler |
| Puri | East | Jagannath | Odisha | All year; Rath Yatra in June or July |
| Rameswaram | South | Shiva as Ramanathaswamy | Tamil Nadu | All year; October to April is cooler |
About each dham
Badrinath
The temple on the Alaknanda below the Nilkantha peak, reached by road from Rishikesh. It is also part of the Uttarakhand Char Dham.
Dwarka
The Dwarkadhish Temple above the Gomti Ghat, linked to Krishna's kingdom. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and Bet Dwarka are nearby.
Puri
The Jagannath Temple, famous for its Rath Yatra and its Mahaprasad kitchen. Entry is restricted to Hindus by temple rules.
Rameswaram
The Ramanathaswamy Temple on Pamban island, also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, with long pillared corridors and sacred wells.
Two Char Dhams: the difference
The national Char Dham covers the four corners of India. The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, sometimes called the Chota Char Dham, covers four Himalayan shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Travel agencies and searches often use 'Char Dham Yatra' for the Uttarakhand circuit, so check which one a tour covers.
See our Char Dham Yatra guide for the Uttarakhand circuit.
Planning all four
- Fit Badrinath into its season (May to June or September to October).
- Fly between regions: Dehradun for Badrinath, Jamnagar or Rajkot for Dwarka, Bhubaneswar for Puri, Madurai for Rameswaram.
- Allow three to four days for each dham, including travel.
- Combine each with nearby sites: Somnath with Dwarka, Konark with Puri, Madurai with Rameswaram, the other Himalayan shrines with Badrinath.
The tradition behind the four dhams
The four dhams are linked in popular tradition to Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher who is also credited with founding four mathas (monasteries) at the corners of India: Jyotirmath near Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Sringeri in Karnataka. Note that the southern matha is at Sringeri, while the southern dham is Rameswaram.
Each dham has its own traditions of worship and offerings, and each is also a busy town with its own festivals. Pilgrims often add nearby sacred sites: Somnath and Nageshwar near Dwarka, Konark and Bhubaneswar near Puri, Madurai near Rameswaram, and the other Himalayan shrines near Badrinath.
A sample three-week route
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Fly to Dehradun; road to Badrinath and back (May to June or September to October) |
| 5 to 8 | Fly to Rajkot or Jamnagar; Dwarka, Nageshwar and Bet Dwarka |
| 9 to 12 | Fly to Bhubaneswar; Puri, with Konark and Bhubaneswar's temples |
| 13 to 17 | Fly to Madurai; Meenakshi Temple, then Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi |
| 18 to 21 | Buffer days for weather and rest, or return home |
Safety
- Darshan waits vary from minutes to many hours; no one can guarantee quick darshan, so plan buffer time.
- Dress modestly and follow each temple's rules on phones, bags and photography.
- At Badrinath, allow for altitude and cold; check road advisories before travelling.
- Follow each temple's entry rules, including restrictions on who may enter.
What to pack
- Warm layers for Badrinath
- Light cotton for Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram
- Slip-on footwear
- Photo ID
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FAQs
What are the four dhams of India?
Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram.
What is the difference between Char Dham and Chota Char Dham?
The Char Dham of India are Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram. The Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Who established the Char Dham?
Popular tradition associates the grouping with Adi Shankaracharya.
Which dham is open only part of the year?
Badrinath, from about April or May to November.
Can non-Hindus visit all four dhams?
Temple rules differ. The Jagannath Temple in Puri admits only Hindus; check each temple's rules before visiting.
