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Why are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamnotri important Hindu pilgrimage sites?
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Uttarakhand
Bathing ghats on the Bhagirathi River at Gangotri, Uttarakhand, India.
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are collectively known as the Char Dham of Uttarakhand, representing four of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. Their importance is rooted in deep mythological associations and their status as sources of sacred rivers.1234
- Badrinath: Dedicated to the god Vishnu, this site has been a major pilgrimage center for over 2,000 years. The temple is believed to have been established by the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya.53
- Kedarnath: A prominent Shaiva site, the temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is associated with the Pandava princes from the Mahabharata.61
- Gangotri: Located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, this site is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. Mythology holds that Shiva received the river in his matted locks here to break its descent to Earth.32
- Yamunotri: This shrine is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna and marks the origin of the sacred Yamuna River.3