The four sacred pilgrimage sites of Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, Badrinath, and Rameshwaram form the Char Dham as established by Adi Shankaracharya. These places are associated with different deities and are of immense religious significance in Hinduism. Here’s a detailed overview of each:
1. Somnath (Gujarat)
- Location: Prabhas Patan near Veraval, Gujarat
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Diu Airport (85 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Veraval (7 km).
- By Road: Well connected by road to major cities in Gujarat.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March (pleasant weather).
- Other Information: Somnath is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas and located near the Arabian Sea.
2. Nageshwar (Gujarat)
- Location: Near Dwarka, Gujarat
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Jamnagar Airport (137 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Dwarka (15 km).
- By Road: Well connected by road to Dwarka and other major cities.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: Located near the Arabian Sea, it’s one of the most tranquil Jyotirlingas.
3. Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh)
- Location: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), about 195 km away.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Markapur Road (85 km).
- By Road: Buses and taxis are available from Hyderabad and other cities.
- Best Season to Visit: September to March (winter and post-monsoon).
- Other Information: Mallikarjuna is located on the Nallamala Hills and is also a Shakti Peetha.
4. Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
- Location: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport (Indore), 55 km away.
- By Train: Ujjain has its own railway station.
- By Road: Well-connected to Indore and other major cities.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March (cooler weather).
- Other Information: Famous for the Bhasma Aarti performed early in the morning.
5. Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh)
- Location: Mandhata Island, Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Indore Airport, about 77 km away.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Omkareshwar Road (12 km).
- By Road: Well connected by road from Indore and Ujjain.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: Omkareshwar is located on an island shaped like the Hindu symbol “Om” in the Narmada River.
6. Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)
- Location: Pune district, Maharashtra
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Pune Airport (110 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Pune, about 110 km away.
- By Road: Well connected by road from Pune and Mumbai.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March (winter is ideal).
- Other Information: Bhimashankar is also a popular trekking destination with dense forests.
7. Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra)
- Location: Nashik, Maharashtra
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Mumbai Airport (170 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Nashik Road (36 km).
- By Road: Well connected by road to Mumbai and Nashik.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: It is the origin point of the Godavari River and a major religious center.
8. Grishneshwar (Maharashtra)
- Location: Ellora, Maharashtra
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Aurangabad Airport (36 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Aurangabad.
- By Road: Well connected by road to Aurangabad.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: Located near the famous Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar is a popular pilgrimage site.
9. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)
- Location: Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun), 239 km away.
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Rishikesh, 221 km away.
- By Road: The last motorable point is Gaurikund, followed by a 16 km trek.
- Best Season to Visit: May to October (except monsoons).
- Other Information: Kedarnath is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters and remains closed during winter due to snowfall.
10. Kashi Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh)
- Location: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (25 km).
- By Train: Varanasi Junction is well connected to major cities.
- By Road: Well connected by road to all major cities in Uttar Pradesh.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March (pleasant weather).
- Other Information: Situated on the banks of the Ganga, Kashi Vishwanath is one of the most revered Shiva temples.
11. Vaidyanath (Jharkhand)
- Location: Deoghar, Jharkhand
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Patna Airport (281 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Deoghar.
- By Road: Well connected by road from cities like Ranchi and Patna.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: Also known as Baba Baidyanath, this temple is believed to cure ailments and diseases.
12. Ramanathaswamy (Tamil Nadu)
- Location: Deoghar, Jharkhand
- How to Reach:
- By Air: Nearest airport is Patna Airport (281 km).
- By Train: Nearest railway station is Deoghar.
- By Road: Well connected by road from cities like Ranchi and Patna.
- Best Season to Visit: October to March.
- Other Information: Also known as Baba Baidyanath, this temple is believed to cure ailments and diseases.
General Tips for Jyotirlinga Yatra:
- Clothing: Respectful attire is required for temples. Some temples have specific dress codes.
- Health Precautions: Be prepared for long queues at some temples, especially during festivals.
- Best Time to Visit: October to March is generally the best season for most of the Jyotirlingas, as the weather is pleasant for travel. Avoid monsoon seasons in the hilly areas like Kedarnath and Bhimashankar.