Chota Char Dham

Chota Char Dham
Name
Proper name	Chota Char Dham
Devanagari	छोटा चार धाम
Geography
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand
Culture
Primary deity	Shiva (Kedarnath) Vishnu (Badrinath) Ganga (Gangotri) Yamuna (Yamunotri)
Architecture
Architectural styles	North Indian architecture
History and governance
Date built	Unknown
Creator	Pandavas

The Chota Char Dham (Devanagari: छोटा चार धाम) (literally translated as 'the small four abodes/seats', meaning 'the small circuit of four abodes/seats'), is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand (formerly the northwestern section of Uttar Pradesh), the circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri (Hindi: यमनोत्री), Gangotri (Hindi: गंगोत्री), Kedarnath (Hindi: केदारनाथ), and Badrinath (Hindi: बद्रीनाथ). Badrinath is also one of the four destinations (with each destination being in different corners of the country) of the longer Char Dham from which the Chota Char Dham likely draws its name.

While each of these sites is unique in its own fashion, inclusion in the Char Dham has, over time, caused them be viewed together in popular imagination and in pilgrimage practice. The Annual Char Dham Yatra restarted in May 2014, after remaining suspended since the outbreak of 2013 Uttarakhand floods. The footfall has now improved due to proactive measures taken by the government of Uttarakhand.

The day of Akha-Trij or Akha-Teej (in the month of May) marks the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra. The ‘Yatra’ typically closes 2 days after Diwali, on the day of Bhai-Bij (or Bhai Dooj).

Also, there are chances of roadblocks due to heavy rainfall in late July and August. In May and June, tourists flock in large numbers. So, there is very little time offered for ‘Darshan’. So, it is best to take the Char Dham Yatra in early July and September - October.

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Wikipedia