History of Yamunotri Dham is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Yamuna and is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. According to Hindu mythology, Yamunotri is considered the source of the river Yamuna and is one of the four sacred shrines in India’s Char Dham Tour Packages.
According to legend, Yamunotri was the home of the sage Asit Muni, who lived on the banks of the Yamuna and was known for his devotion to the goddess. The current temple was built by Hindu king Narendra Shah in the 19th century, but the site has been mentioned in ancient Hindu texts as well.
In Hindu mythology, Yamuna is considered the daughter of the sun god Surya and sister of Yama, the god of death. She is revered as a symbol of purity and is believed to cleanse the souls of those who bathe in her waters. The temple is surrounded by natural hot springs, and it is customary for pilgrims to take a dip in these waters before visiting the shrine.
The temple and its surroundings hold great religious and spiritual significance for Hindus and attract a large number of pilgrims every year, especially during the annual Char Dham Yatra, which takes place between April and November.
History and Mythology of Yamunotri Temple
According to the beliefs of Hinduism, Goddess Yamuna is the sister of Yamraj, the God of Death. And, Surya or the Sun is the father of Goddess Yamuna in Hindu mythology.
Another belief prevalent in society is that a saint name Asti Muni lived here in solitude and used to bath in both rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna as a ritual. During the last days of his life, he was unable to perform the ritual, so River Yamuna appeared opposite to River Ganga in this place to keep his ritual unhindered.
The architecture of Yamunotri Temple
The present-day temple has a yellow and brown structure that has an idol made of black marble dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. Another sculpture of white marble dedicated to Goddess Ganga is also situated in the main sanctum.
The temple is small in size and has a tower-shaped structure at its top that is yellow colored with red and brown borders History of Yamunotri Dham.
Location of Yamunotri
Yamunotri temple is situated in Uttaranchal or Uttarakhand State of India, in the Uttarkashi district of Gharwal Himalayas. This majestic temple known for its elegance in the whole world is situated at the base of the mountain that has glacier from where River Yamuna originates. The approximate altitude of the temple from the sea level is around 3,291 meters or 10,797 feet History of Yamunotri Dham.
Near the Bandarpoonch peaks of Himalayas, lies the Yamunotri Glacier which is the actual source of the River Yamuna. The approximate distance of Yamunotri Dham temple from Uttarkashi is 129 kilometers. The distance of Yamunotri Dham from the major areas nearby is – 213 km from Haridwar, 204 km from Rishikesh, 164 km from Dehradun, 350 km from Kedarnath, 406 km from Badrinath, 227 km from Gangotri, and about 382 km from the National Capital Delhi.
How to Reach There
Rishikesh Railway Station at a distance of about 202 kilometers from Yamunotri Dham, is the nearest railway station. It has good connectivity to other parts of the country and state.
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the airport that is nearest to the Yamunotri Temple and is at a distance of about 187 kilometers.
By Flight- The nearest airport to Yamunotri is in Dehradun. Take a flight to Jolly Grant airport from Delhi or a major Indian city. From there, we will provide you with a private vehicle till Yamunotri.
By Road – There is no straight route to Yamunotri. However, one can reach Hanuman Chatti by bus from Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Badkot, Haridwar, and Dehradun. Then, you can either trek for 14 km or use ponies and palanquins, available on hire.
By Rail – The nearest railheads are at Rishikesh, 200 km via Narendranagar and Haridwar. We would provide you with all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and intercity drives History of Yamunotri Dham.
