Chota Char Dham (छोटा चार धाम) is a pilgrimage circuit confined to the Indian state of Uttrakhand that includes pilgrimage sites - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. It is seen as a miniature to Char Dham, a nationwide Pilgrimage circuit in India. Unlike Char Dham, Chota Char Dham sites are not exclusively dedicated or related to God Vishnu. Gangotri and Yamunotri are worshipped as the source of the holy Hindu rivers - Ganga and Yamuna, which are believed to be manifestations of Goddess Ganga and Goddess Yamuna. Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to God Shiva and is one of the 12 holiest Jyotirlingams of Hinduism. The pilgrimage site Badrinath is a common site in both Char Dham and Chota Char Dham which is dedicated to God Vishnu/Narayana. The Chota Char Dham circuit essentially represents all major three Hindu sects, with two Shaktism sites (Yamunotri and Gangotri), one Shaivism site (Kedarnath), and one Vaishnavism site (Badrinath).
Traditionally Chota Char Dham sites are visited in the following order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
Etymology
Chota Char Dham literally means 'smaller Char Dham'.
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- Char Dham