Yamunotri Temple is located at an altitude of 3,291 meters in the western region of Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarkashi district of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. And it is just 129 km away from the main district headquarters Uttarkashi. And the temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamunotri. And it also has black marble idols of the goddess and the deity. Yamunotri Temple is a full day’s journey from the main cities of Uttarakhand and Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun.
The actual temple can be reached by a 13 km trek from Bajrang Bali Chatti town and a 6 km trek from Janaki Chatti. Horses and palanquins are available for hire. Many waterfalls can be seen on the trek from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri. There are only two trekking routes from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri. The one on the right bank also goes through Markandeya Tirtha, where sage Markandeya has written Markandeya Purana. The other route is located on the left bank of the river, via Kharsali, from where it is a five or six hour climb to Yamunotri.
History of Yamunotri Dham
Yamunotri temple also has only one temple dedicated to goddess Yamuna. The temple has been destroyed twice by snow and floods before being rebuilt. It is also located in the stronghold of Mandrapunch. It is also a part of the prestigious Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
Yamunotri Dham and Hope Pass
The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya in May. And closes for the winter on Yam Dwitiya (also in November, the second day of Diwali). And a little further is the actual source of the Yamuna river. Which is also at an altitude of about 4,421 meters. Two hot springs are also present in Yamunotri. Which provide relief to the tired hikers even at an altitude of 3,292 meters. And Surya Kund has boiling hot water.
Yamunotri Temple Uttarkashi – And there the water in Gauri Kund is lukewarm and suitable for bathing. And it is said that the water of the waterfall is hot enough to cook rice and potatoes. And the accommodation in the temple is also limited to a few small ashrams and guest houses.
Ritual duties like making and distributing prasad and supervising the puja are also done by the Uniyal family of Pujarios. And the hot water springs are also one of the unique aspects of the Sthal Parvabhi ritual practice. And raw rice is cooked there and Prasad is made.
Yamunotri Mythology
Yamunotri painted by James Baillie Fraser 1820 According to Hindu legend, this was the hermitage of Sage Asita. And throughout his life, he bathed in both Ganga and Yamuna daily. And when he was unable to go to Gangotri during his old age, a stream of Ganga appeared in front of Yamunotri for him.
Yamuna’s birthplace is also in Champasar glacier, just below Bandarpoonch mountain. And the mountain adjacent to the source of the river is dedicated to her father. And it is also called Kalinda mountain. Kalinda is also an epithet of the Sun God Surya.
Yamuna Dham River
The actual source of the Yamuna river is also located in the Yamunotri glacier. And which is at an altitude of 6,387 meters near the Bandarpach peaks of the lower Himalayas. And is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. It also crosses the states of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and later Delhi before merging into the Ganga at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
Yamunotri Temple Overview
It is a temple of Yamunotri at the origin of the Yamuna river. And above it is a side of Bandar Poonch Peak. It is 3615 meters long. The actual source is a frozen lake of snow and glacier which is situated on Kalind Mountain at an altitude of 4421 meters above sea level. And even this cannot be easily reached about 1 km further. And that is why the temple is situated at the foot of the hill.
there is a temple of Divine Mother Yamuna, which was built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. And the temple of little Yamuna is the epitome of icy cold water and its complete innocence and child-like purity, increases the feeling of deep reverence in the devotees of Yamunotri. And the legend itself is spectacular, from which the view of rugged peaks and dense forests can be seen.
The deity of Yamuna is also made of black marble. And this temple is dedicated to the river Yamuna which is depicted in the form of a single silver idol. Which is decorated with garlands.
Hot water springs also emerge from the caves of a hill near the temple. And Suryakund is the most important kund. And near Suryakund there is a single rock called Divya Shila. And which is worshipped before offering prayers and offerings to the deity. And the pilgrims prepare rice and potatoes by dipping them in these hot water springs for offering in the temple. They have to be tied in muslin cloth. And the rice cooked in this way is taken back home as prasad.
The priests and purohits who worship in the Yamunotri temple come from Kharsali village near Janakichatti.
Winter (November to April)
The weather is very cold with heavy snowfall. Snowfall is also enjoyed during winters. And especially from the end of November to mid-March. During this period, the Yamunotri Dham remains closed. And only level pro-trekkers and mountaineers come to this area for various trekking expeditions near Yamunotri.
Summer (May to June)
Yamunotri is cold and winters are very cold. And it also rains. The gates of Yamunotri Dham open in the beginning of summer. And the weather is also pleasant. And the maximum temperature remains around 20c. And it is very cold there at night. And this is also the best season for pilgrimage and sightseeing.
Monsoon (July to August)
Monsoon starts in Yamunotri area from the end of July to August. And due to frequent landslides, reaching the temple becomes difficult. And pilgrims are also suggested to avoid the visit during monsoon season. And due to heavy rainfall in the area, visitors may face difficulty in reaching the temple during monsoon months of July and August.
The best time to visit the holy town of Yamunotri is June and September. And the temple is open from the last week of April to the second week of November.
Surya Kund – Yamunotri Uttarkashi
There are many hot water springs very close to the Yamunotri Devi temple. The most important among them is Surya Kund. It also has boiling hot water oozing out from the cracks of the mountain. People boil rice and potatoes on Wednesdays in cloth, preferably muslin cloth. They are considered as a religious offering to Goddess Yamuna.
Divya Shila or Divya Stone
It is a reddish rock near Surya Kund. It should be worshipped before paying respects to the main deity or even to Yamuna Maa. And according to Skanda Purana, a person can achieve spiritual liberation by just touching the sacred rock with mantras. And people feel very happy there. And they pray to God with full devotion. God also blesses them.
How to reach Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri Dham is located 13 km from Hanumanchatti and 6 km from Jankichatti. And to reach Yamunotri Dham, ponies, or horses or other palanquins can also be hired. And a motorable road has been issued to Jankichatti via Syanachatti and Hanumanchatti. Which is only 50 km from Barkot. There is also a 5 km trek from Jankichatti to Yamunotri. For which ponies, or dandi, and candy baskets are also available for children to carry.
By Air:
The nearest airport to Yamunotri mandir is Jolly Grant which is in Dehradun. Which is located only 26 km from Rishikesh. And from the airport itself, passengers can book either a taxi or luxury booking to reach Yamunotri.
By Rail:
Railway connectivity level is only till Rishikesh. And only after that you have to avail either private taxis or buses running on the route. And from Haridwar or Rishikesh also you will get shared jeeps or similar vehicles. Innova, Tavera, Quarlis, or Scorpio, take SUV or Muv. The nearest railway station is Haridwar Dehradun, Kotdwar, or Kathgodam. For train booking also click from there.
By Road:
Yamunotri Temple Uttarkashi – The best route to reach Yamunotri mandir is via Dehradun and Barkot. And if you are also coming from Haridwar and Rishikesh then the route to Yamunotri also diverges from Dharasu division point. And Yamunotri is also well connected to Haridwar, Dehradun, Chamba, and Tehri, and Barkot, Hanuman Chatti, and Janaki Chatti.
There is no facility of staying in Yamunotri itself. And the following options are available for staying in the nearby places.
At Janaki Chatti,
Limited accommodation is also available at Janaki Chatti.
At Barkot,
Tirth Yatra Barkot is about 50 km away from Yamunotri. And you can stay there. And you can also complete the Yamunotri Darshan in a single day’s journey. And there are many good hotels in Barkot itself.