Uttarakhand, the 27th state of the Republic of India, is called the abode of the Gods or referred as the Heaven on Earth. It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Chota Char Dhams, the minor pilgrimage of the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas, of which Badrinath is part of Char Dham, major pilgrimage of four highly sacred Hindu temples. Haridwar which means Gateway to God is the only place on the plains.