Uttarakhand Char Dhams (Chota Char Dhams)

Uttarakhand Char Dhams or Chota Char Dhams are 4 sacred pilgrimages in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. They are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Four sacred rivers flow through these pilgrimages which are river Alakananda at Badrinath, river Mandakini at Kedarnath, river Bhagirathi at Gangotri and river Yamuna at Yamunotri. The Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra normally starts from the foothills of Haridwar or Rishikesh.

1. Badrinath:

► Badrinath (3300 m) (Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) (Divya Desam) (All India Char Dham) (Uttarakhand Char Dham) (Sapta Badri)
(Chamoli district, Uttarakhand)

☗ Nara Parvat
☗ Narayana Parvat
▬ River Alakananda flows
• Pancha Dharas:
(1) Prahlada Dhara
(2) Kurma Dhara
(3) Bhrigu Dhara
(4) Urvashi Dhara
(5) Indira Dhara
(Uttarakhand Himalayas (Garhwal))

(Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)

- Lord Vishnu abides in Badrinath or Badarikashrama (which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) as Badri Vishal.

2. Kedarnath:

► Kedarnath (3581 m) (Jyotirlinga) (Paadal Petra Sthalam) (Uttarakhand Char Dham) (Pancha Kedar)
(Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand)

☗ Kedarnath Parvat
▬ River Mandakini flows
◼ Chorabari Tal (3 km)
◼ Vasuki Tal (8 km)
(Uttarakhand Himalayas (Garhwal))

(Shiva Purana)

- Lord Shiva gave boons to sages Nara and Narayana who performed penance in Kedarnath and abides there as Kedarnatha Jyotirlinga.

3. Gangotri:

► Gangotri (3140 m) (Uttarakhand Char Dham)
(Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand)

☗ Gangotri Glacier
► River Bhagirathi Udgam (Source) → Ganga Mandir Ghat (Aarti)
(Uttarakhand Himalayas (Garhwal))

- River Bhagirathi Ganga originates from Gaumukh near Gangotri. There is a temple of Devi Ganga at Gangotri and Ganga Aarti is performed near the temple.
- King Bhagiratha performed penance at Gangotri to bring river Ganga on Earth.

4. Yamunotri:

► Yamunotri (3291 m) (Uttarakhand Char Dham)
(Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand)

☗ Yamunotri Glacier
► River Yamuna Udgam (Source) → Yamuna Mandir Ghat (Aarti)
(Uttarakhand Himalayas (Garhwal))

- River Yamuna originates near Yamunotri. There is a temple of Devi Yamuna there and Yamuna Aarti is performed near the temple.

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