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What are the four dhams that form the major Hindu pilgrimage circuit around India?
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pilgrimage
Muslim pilgrims at Mecca.
The term "Char Dham" (meaning "four abodes") can refer to two distinct pilgrimage circuits in India, which are often confused.
The major national pilgrimage circuit, known as the Char Dham, consists of four sacred sites located at the cardinal corners of India:
- Badrinath (North)
- Dwarka (West)
- Rameswaram (South)
- Puri (East)
These sites are considered the four great abodes of the gods and attract large numbers of pilgrims annually.1
Additionally, there is a separate, smaller circuit located in the state of Uttarakhand, often referred to as the Char Dham of Uttarakhand. This regional circuit includes:
- Badrinath
- Kedarnath
- Gangotri
- Yamunotri
While Badrinath is common to both circuits, the national Char Dham is the primary circuit encompassing the entire country.123