The Char Dham is the most important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal section of the state of Uttarakhand, the circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. While each site in the circuit has an autonomous history and significance that predates and remains distinct from their status as a circuit, inclusion in the Char Dham has, over time, caused them be viewed together in popular imagination and actual pilgrimage practice. Char Dham do not share a single sectarian affiliation. Instead, the three major sectarian movements in modern devotional Hinduism all have representation, with the Vaishnava site Badrinath joined by one Shaiva site (Kedarnath) and two Devi sites (Yamunotri and Gangotri). Accessible until recent times only after a two-month trek that repeatedly exceeds 4000 meters, Char Dham was long dominated by wandering ascetics and religious professionals, along with a handful of devoted retirees and wealthy patrons (who could afford an entourage). It was a kind of custom for wealthy Hindus to travel to Char Dham and build a temple of their personal deity. This is why we see numerous temples through out the route of Char Dham. Today, the Char Dham sees upwards of 250,000 unique visitors in an average pilgrimage season, which lasts from approximately April 15 until Diwali (sometime in November).

Although temperatures at the shrines in the early winter months (October and November) are inhospitable, it is said that the incredible mountain scenery that surrounds the sites is most vivid after the rains have had a chance to moisten the dust of the plains below. Traditionally devotees visit Char Dham in a set order, beginning with Yamunotri then Gangotri, Kedarnath and finishing at Badrinath. It is also popular to visit only Kedarnath and Badrinath(Do Dham). Full Char Dham tour takes 11-14 days from Delhi while shortened Do Dham tour takes 8-10 days.