Bada Char Dham of India: A Quick Q&A Explainer
| TL;DR: Short, plain answers to the questions first-time pilgrims ask about the pan-India Bada Char Dham what it is, who made it, and how it differs from the Uttarakhand yatra.
If you are new to the Bada Char Dham, here are the essentials in question-and-answer form.
The basics
What exactly is the Bada Char Dham? The Bada Char Dham, or Great Four Abodes, is the pan-India pilgrimage circuit of Badrinath (north), Dwarka (west), Rameshwaram (south) and Jagannath Puri (east). The four sites form a spiritual quadrilateral across the subcontinent, with Moksha as the ultimate aim.
Who established it? Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century philosopher and reformer, who also founded four mathas to preserve the Vedas in each direction.
The common confusions
How is it different from the Uttarakhand Char Dham? The Uttarakhand version (the Chota Char Dham) is a regional yatra to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, all in one state and most often flown by helicopter from Dehradun. The Bada Char Dham is the pan-India circuit. Badrinath is the only site on both lists.
Why is Rameshwaram special? It is both a Char Dham abode and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, sacred to followers of both Vishnu and Shiva, because Rama is said to have installed a Shiva Linga there.
For the full picture with architecture, mythology and footfall figures, see this guide from Saffron Chariot with more at saffronchariot.com
FAQ
Is the Bada Char Dham one trip? Traditionally yes, though it spans four states and is usually done in stages.
Which abode closes seasonally? Badrinath, due to Himalayan snowfall.
Does Saffron Chariot run the full pan-India circuit? No. It specialises in the Uttarakhand Char Dham by helicopter and can arrange the Badrinath leg.
Prepared by the team at Saffron Chariot, Haridwar - Char Dham helicopter specialists.