Char Dham
The Char Dham (meaning: four abodes) is a set of four pilgrimage sites in India.
It is believed that visiting these sites helps achieve moksha (salvation).
The four Dhams are, Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram.
It is believed that every Hindu should visit the Char Dhams during one's lifetime.
The Char Dham as defined by Adi Shankaracharya consists of four Hindu pilgrimage sites.
These main 'dhamas' are the shrines of Lord Vishnu and Rameshwaram is a shrine of lord Shiva.
All the 'dhamas' are related to four epochs,
Dham of Satyug- Badrinath, Uttarakhand
Dham of Treta Yuga -Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
Dham of Dwapara Yuga - Dvaraka, Gujarat
Dham of Kaliyuga - Jagannatha Puri, Odisha.
Another small circuit in Uttarakhand of four pilgrimage sites-Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath is referred to as Chota Char Dham which is locally popular in North India.
Almost 80% of the deaths are related to medical issues, mainly cardiac arrests, and 20% due to accidents
Himalayan temples located averagely at a height of 10,000 to 12,000 ft
Pilgrims are not used to such high altitudes
They should be given a break in their journey at lower heights to help them acclimatize themselves
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