What is the difference between Char Dham and Chhota Char Dham yatra?

The original Char Dham (established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century) comprises Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram — the four sites representing the four directions of India. Completing this is a major undertaking requiring travel across the entire country. The Chhota Char Dham (also called Uttarakhand Char Dham or Himalayan Char Dham) is a regional pilgrimage circuit within Uttarakhand consisting of Yamunotri (source of Yamuna, dedicated to Goddess Yamuna), Gangotri (source of Ganga, Goddess Ganga), Kedarnath (Lord Shiva as Jyotirlinga and one of Panch Kedar), and Badrinath (Lord Vishnu, shared with the original Char Dham). The Chhota Char Dham is a seasonal pilgrimage (May to November due to Himalayan weather) and can be completed in 10-14 days. It was established in the 19th-20th century as a devotional substitute for those unable to complete the pan-Indian Char Dham. The Skanda Purana”s Kedar Khand section praises the Uttarakhand circuit, while the Padma Purana emphasizes the pan-Indian Char Dham. Both circuits grant merit for moksha, but the Chhota Char Dham is specifically associated with the purification of sins and liberation from rebirth.