Char Dham Yatra is the most prestigious journey if you are a Hindu.
Char Dham comprises of :
#1 Badrinath(North)
#2 Puri(East)
#3 Dwarka(West)
#4 Rameswaram(South)
All the Hindus doesn't matter where they live want to complete this journey in the span of their life.
And then there was I so privileged to complete this milestone at the mere age of 15.
The first of the four dhams I visited was Jagannath Puri in an era where albums were made rather than the digital photos now a days saved in your electronic devices.
Puri the east dham, is located in the state of Odisha, India. The main temple here is about 1000 years old and constructed by Raja Choda Ganga Deva and Raja Tritiya Ananga Bhima Deva. You could witness Brahma, Vishnu & Maheswara, the three together in one frame . The main attraction is the event in which the locals celebrate a special day in this Dham known as Ratha Yatra. ("Chariot Festival")
The best part of the visit was my mother and me being able to do a parikrama(round about) of the deity's statue, a very holy event for the Hindus.
But that is not all there is to Puri, it has one of the most beautiful beaches in all of India.
The opportunity for the visit of the second of the four dhams (Badrinath) came for me when my cousin visited from Mumbai.
Badrinath is located in the state of Uttarakhand. It is in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The town lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak (6,560m).
The journey to Badrinath is a real challenge in itself even now a days let alone in the medieval times when people traveled by foot.
Rafting is something you could also indulge in on your way back.
We had collected holy water of river Ganges from Rudraprayag(point where Alaknanda and Mandakini meet) as an offering at Rameswaram. The water has the most significance when offered in the same year as its collection. So a plan was made in the end of the year to visit Tamil Nadu.
It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu to Lanka. It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Brahma, Vishnu & Maheswara three are together in all-time every place.
The best part in the temple is the snans(bath) from the 36 wells.
It would be best to book your hotels nice and early as there are not many in the region.
My grandmother was not getting any younger, she was now in the wrong side of her 70s and however fit she may have been age was now taking its toll.
The last dham was left for her and for me, Dwarka the western Dham.
Dwarka is located in the state of Gujarat, India. The legendary city of Dwarka was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna.
The temple has wonderful architecture and is well planned to accumulate the huge crowds that dhams have.
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