Yamunotri Travel Guide is one of the largest spiritual destinations in India and lies on the western side of the Garhwal Himalayas. Situated at an elevation of about 3,293 m, it boasts high mountain peaks, glaciers and the pristine Yamuna river. Yamunotri is the place from which India ‘s second-most sacred river, Yamuna, originates, making Yamunotri one-fourth of the famous Char Dhamunotri pilgrimage taken by Hindus.
The Yamuna River begins from the glacier of Yamunotri, which is around 6,387 m high. From here, in a sequence of several waterfalls, the river flows into Saptarishi Kund and then gushes southwards.
A temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, who is said to be the daughter of the Sun God and the twin sister of Yama (god of death), is the main attraction in Yamunotri. In the inner sanctum, a holy idol of Yamuna Devi has been installed. The idol has intricate carvings on it and is made of polished black ebony. The temple is flanked by two lovely wells, Surya Kund and Gauri Kund. Dipping rice and potatoes into the boiling water of the springs and offering it to the Yamuna idol is a popular practise among devotees. Later, this food is distributed to devotees as prasad. The temple was constructed by Sudarshan Shah, a prominent monarch of Garhwal, in 1839 AD. It was later destroyed in an earthquake and was rebuilt in the 19th century by Gularia Devi, the Maharani of Jaipur. The temple boasts the architectural Nagar pattern and is constructed of granite A medium conical-shaped minaret is housed at the top of the tower, emphasised by pale yellow with a vivid vermilion border.
History of Yamunotri
The Yamunotri sanctuary belongs to the goddess Yamuna, who holds the status of omnipotent mother to the human race for all devout Hindus. Life on Earth is believed to continue to be supported by rich nourishment, coming from the grace and blessings of Goddess Yamuna. River Yamuna is regarded as a big Indian river apart from religious beliefs and is part of the famous ‘Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati’ Sister Rivers trio.
In 1839, in honour of the Goddess Yamuna, King Sudarshan Shah founded the Yamunotri temple in Tehri Naresh. But a fierce earthquake seriously damaged the temple. In the later part of the 19th century, Jaipur Maharani Guleria took the initiative to restore and renovate the temple, and thus the new and present Yamunotri temple came into being.
Yamunotri temple has many legends associated with it. Yamuna is the daughter of Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Saranyu, the Goddess of Consciousness, and is the sister of Yama, the God of Death, according to religious legends. Thus, Hindus believe that not only Goddess Yamuna, but also Surya Dev, her lord, Saranyu, her mother, and Yama, her brother, will receive blessings by offering Puja at Yamunotri Devotees never fail to dip into the waters of the holy Yamuna River because they believe that they can get rid of the fear of mortality or death by doing so. The mountain that falls next to the source of the Yamuna River is named after Surya Dev, the father of Yamuna Devi. It is named as Kalind Parvat as Surya Dev is also named as ‘Kalind‘ differently.
Another legend says that the ancient sage, Asit Muni, lived his hermit life in this region. He bathed every day in both the Ganga River and the Yamuna River. He was no longer able to travel to the Ganga River as he grew old. A stream of the River Ganga also emerged near Yamuna, just opposite it, to allow him to continue his bathing rituals in an uninterrupted manner.
Yet another legendary tale says that by nature, Goddess Yamuna was too frivolous. This characteristic came to her because, as the storey goes, her mother could not make eye contact with Yamuna ‘s immensely dazzling husband.
Tourist Attractions in Yamunotri
Places to Visit Yamunotri Dham You’ll love visiting famous tourist spots and enjoying the local culture when you travel to Yamunotri. You will definitely discover some of the best things to do in Yamunotri, amongst other things to do in Yamunotri, to make your trip a satisfying one. Things to do on a trip to Yamunotri can include exploring attractions in Yamunotri and visiting places of interest.
Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri‘s main attraction is the temple dedicated to the goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs of Sulphur, nearly 7 km away in Jankichatti. With striking visions of a variety of cascades, the trudge from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri is very satisfying.
Saptarishi Kund
The root of the Yamuna River is known to be the Saptarishi Kund. Saptarishi Kund is believed to be the origin of the Yamuna River, at an altitude of 4421 metres. Saptarshi Kund beholds delightful scenery with its muddy bluish waters, pebbly banks and the unusual show of Brahama lotus. Before you start your trip to Saptarsi Kund, it is vital that you familiarise yourself with the climate of this region by staying at Yamunotri for a day.
Surya Kund
There are a number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.
Divya Shila
Divya Shila gives the devotees an ethereal feeling as it is a strong rock pillar situated close to the Surya Kund at Yamunotri. It is customary that before entering Yamunotri, all devotees should make poojas here at Divya Shila.
HanumanChatti
13 km from Yamunotri, the confluence of the rivers Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna, from where the Dodi Tal (3,307mt) trek begins. A six-hour climb through the lustrous meadows and the woody hills, enjoying the Himalayan shrubs’ aromatic fragrance, provides one with sheer amusement.
Kharsali
Kharsali offers the picnickers an entertaining setting and a lovely atmosphere. Kharsali is one of the most renowned tourist locations in this country, a quaint place with lots of thermal springs and pretty cascades. Kharsali portrays nature’s beauty at its zenith as a mind-blowing meadow where oak and conifer trees surround the landscape.
Barkot
It is a small town located on the way to Yamunotri, just 49 kilometers away from Yamunotri. Barkot have one of the ancient temple and ideal for meditation.
Best Time to Visit Yamunotri
Between May to June and September to November, Yamunotri is the best time to visit. People visit this city and continuously find a wonderful atmosphere.
The winter season in Yamunotri runs from October to March. The place also faces snowfall during this season, as temperatures drop below 0 degrees. With the temperature going from-7 to 5 ° C, winters are crispy.
Amid rainstorm, this city witnesses overwhelming precipitation. This season begins from late July and finishes in September.
Summers begins from April and closures in July. Temperature amid this season ranges from 6 to 20°C.
How To Reach Yamunotri
By Road – To Yamunotri, there is no straight path. From Rishikesh, Mussourie, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Badkot, Haridwar and Dehradun, one can reach Hanuman Chatti by bus. You must either hike a distance of 14 km from there or use ponies and palanquins that are available for hire. The road from Dehradun to Hanuman Chatti is very picturesque and en route one goes through the Kempti Falls and Mussourie.
By Rail – Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, at a distance of 222 km, via Narendranagar and Haridwar. Jolly Grant, approximately 70 km from Yamunotri, is the nearest airport. For local transport and also for intercity drives, we will have all Indian tourist permit vehicles for you.