North India · Uttarakhand
Yamunotri, Uttarakhand
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
Chota Char Dham; a ~6 km trek from Janki Chatti, traditionally the first stop of the yatra. Same season as Gangotri.
About Yamunotri
- Mountains
Where it is
Yamunotri is a shrine at the head of the Yamuna valley in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalaya at over 3,000 m beneath the Bandarpunch massif, reached on foot from Janki Chatti.
History
The Yamuna, revered as the daughter of the sun god Surya and sister of Yama, rises from glaciers above the shrine, and Yamunotri is traditionally the first stop of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. The present temple dates from the 19th century and was built under the patronage of the rulers of Tehri Garhwal.
People
The shrine is served by Garhwali families from nearby villages such as Kharsali, where the goddess's image spends the winter, and porters, pony-handlers and palanquin bearers carry many pilgrims up the path. Garhwali and Hindi are spoken.
Known for
- The Yamunotri Temple
- Surya Kund hot spring
- Divya Shila
- The trek from Janki Chatti
- Views of Bandarpunch
Did you know?
Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes, tied in cloth, in the near-boiling water of Surya Kund and take them home as prasad.
Shrines and sites
- Yamunotri Temple
- Surya Kund hot spring
- Divya Shila
- Janki Chatti trailhead
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.