Char Dham – means four sacred places in India as per Hindu belief. They are PURI, DWARKA, BADRINATH and RAMESHWARAM – collectively known as the Chardham of India are the most sacred of all pilgrimages. It is believed that undertaking a journey to these holy shrines located in the four corners of India washes away one’s sins and relieves one from the cycle of birth and death.
However, some people called these places as Char Dham – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinathji (in Uttaranchal) – which although sacred, are not actually char dham. Any Dham is a revered place, but “Char Dham” actually refers to – Puri, Dwarka, Badrinath & Rameshwaram – where live four Shankaracharyas.