Char Dhams were established in the four directions of India by Adi Shankaracharya. The Char Dham (“four abodes”) are four places which according to the beliefs of Hindus will help them achieve Moksha. Char Dham are the names of four pilgrimage sites in India that are widely revered by Hindus. It comprises Badrinath,Dwarka,Puri and Rameswaram. It is considered highly sacred by Hindus and one must have a visit to ‘char dham’ once in a lifetime.

According to Hindu Dharma, Badrinath became prominent when Nar-Narayan, an avatar of Vishnu, did Tapasya there. At that time that place was filled with berry trees. In Sanskrit language berries are called “badri”, so the place was named Badrika-Van, i.e. the forest of berries. The particular spot where the Nar-Narayan did Tapasya, a large berry tree formed covering him to save him from the rain and the sun. Local people believe that Mata Lakshmi became the berry tree to save Lord Narayan. Post-Tapasya, Narayan said, people will always take Mata Laxmi’s name before his Name, hence Hindus always refer Lord Vishnu as “Lakshmi-Narayan “. It was therefore called Badri-Nath i.e. the Lord of Berry forest. This all happened in the Sathyuga. So Badrinath came to be known as the first Dham.

The second place, Rameswaram got its importance in the Tretha-Yuga when Lord Rama built a Shiva-Lingam at Rameshwaram in Tamil- Nadu and worshiped it to get the blessings of Lord ShivaThe Name Rameswaram means “Rama’s Lord”.

The third Dhaam Dwarka got its importance in the Dwapara Yuga when Lord Krishna made Dwarka his residence instead of Mathura, His birthplace.

The Fourth is Jagannatha Puri. It is the only shrine in India, where goddess Subhadra, sister of Lord Krishna is worshipped along with her brothers, Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balabhadra.