Mysticism, spirituality, religion, and beliefs are all prevalent in India. People have been creating, going to, and praying in temples, shrines, and numerous other places of worship for ages. India is home to innumerable temples, some of whose histories are well known and some of which stretch back many centuries. There are a number of these historic temples in Uttarakhand, where the yearly Chardham Yatra takes place at this time of year.
The majority of people find it difficult to imagine a dimension greater or different than the one they experience through their five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste). The sensory experience world shapes our intellectual world as well. The beginning of the spiritual journey occurs when the perceptive intellect realises that there may be a dimension outside our typical range of thinking and experience. To discover the ultimate fact or truth and to work towards understanding what you do not know, you need to use various focused methods and investigations. You look to the afterlife not for consolation but for freedom from everything you "believe" you are. The bigger total, whether it be cosmic or divine, of which we are a part, is what the seekers seek to understand.
Significance of Each of the Char Dham Destinations
Yamunotri
The Ma Yamunotri temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, and the Char Dham Yatra usually begins here, at the River Yamuna
Gangotri
The Ma Gangotri Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Ganga, is famous for its location on the banks of the sacred Ganges River.
Badrinath
The Lord Vishnu, commonly known as Badrinath, is the object of worship at the Badrinath Jee Temple. This sacred site is also one of the stops on the Adi Shankaracharya-founded Char Dham Yatra, which travels across the country.
Kedarnath
One of the 12 jyotirlingas, located at the Kedarnath Baba sanctuary, is famous. The holy site is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is popular among his followers and devotees who come to seek his blessings.
source: https://www.akshartours.com/
According to popular belief, the auspicious yatra should be travelled in a clockwise path from West to East. Visitors begin the Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar or Rishikesh and go in that order to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, making stops in several villages and towns along the way. Over the course of 10 days, one can travel the complete 1300 kilometres of the Char Dham circuit.
Over the winter, the temples are closed and covered in snow; they are only reopened in the spring. During this time, people from adjacent villages and temples move to lower elevations. The oil lamps that are lighted when closing the temple are still alive and blazing when the temples are opened six months later. It is said that during this time, the violent form of Shiva known as Bhairav guards the temples.
