Yamunotri, the source of the sacred Yamuna River and the first stop on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit in Uttarakhand, sits at 3,293 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas and can only be reached by a 6-kil...
Yamunotri
Source of Sacred River Yamuna
Uttarakhand, India
4.7
Char DhamYamuna OriginHot Springs
spiritualmountain
Duration: 1–2 Days
Budget/day: ₹1,500 – ₹4,000
Best season: May – Jun & Sep – Oct
Altitude: 3,293 m
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (190 km to Janki Chatti)
Nearest railway: Haridwar Junction (220 km to Janki Chatti)
Best places to visit in Yamunotri
Things to do in Yamunotri
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4–5 hours (round trip)
Yamunotri Temple Trek
Walk the famous 6-kilometre pilgrimage trail from Janki Chatti to the Yamunotri Temple, one of the four sacred Char Dham sites. The path winds through lush pine forests, suspension bridges, and dramatic gorges with the Yamuna River always within earshot.
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30–45 minutes
Surya Kund Hot Spring Ritual
Cook potatoes and rice wrapped in cloth inside the boiling Surya Kund hot spring — a beloved tradition practiced by pilgrims at Yamunotri for centuries. The prasad cooked here is believed to carry divine blessings and is offered to the goddess before being consumed.
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20–30 minutes
Divya Shila Puja
Before entering the Yamunotri Temple, devotees first worship the Divya Shila, a rock pillar believed to be the divine symbol of the goddess. The ritual involves offering flowers, incense, and prayers in a ceremony guided by temple priests.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: May to June and September to October
The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Yam Dwitiya (Diwali period). Yamunotri is the first stop on the Char Dham Yatra.
May–June
Best Time ⭐May – Jun
5°C – 17°C
Temple freshly open. Clear trails, moderate temperature, best weather for the trek.
- Register for Char Dham Yatra online before departing
- Start the trek from Janki Chatti early morning to reach Yamunotri by noon
Sep–Oct
Best Time ⭐Sep – Oct
2°C – 14°C
Fewer pilgrims, clear mountain air, and stunning autumn scenery make this an ideal time.
- Evenings get very cold — carry heavy woolens
- Best time for photography of the snow-clad peaks
Winter
Avoid 🔴Nov – Apr
-20°C – 2°C
Temple closed. Area snowbound and inaccessible. Extreme temperatures.
- No access during winter
- Deity moved to Kharsali village
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (~190 km to Janki Chatti (base camp))
Duration: ~6–7 hrs by road
Fly to Dehradun, drive via Rishikesh, Barkot to Janki Chatti. Then trek 6 km to Yamunotri Temple.
Taxi: ₹4,500 – ₹7,000 (Dehradun to Janki Chatti)
Airlines: IndiGo, Air India
🚂By Train
Station: Haridwar Junction or Dehradun Station
Train to Haridwar/Dehradun, then hire a cab to Janki Chatti via Barkot.
- Shatabdi Express — Delhi to Haridwar (4.5 hrs)
- Mussoorie Express — Delhi to Dehradun (6.5 hrs)
🚌By Road
Drive to Janki Chatti, the road head for Yamunotri. Then trek 5–6 km to the shrine. Palkis and ponies available.
- Haridwar: 220 km, 6–7 hrs via Rishikesh – Barkot – Janki Chatti
- Dehradun: 175 km, 5–6 hrs via Mussoorie – Barkot
- Barkot: 50 km, 2 hrs via Janki Chatti Road
Itineraries
Local Food
Food options near Yamunotri are extremely limited. Basic dhabas at Janki Chatti serve simple meals. Carry your own snacks for the trek.
Rice cooked in Surya Kund
Pilgrims traditionally cook rice or potatoes in the natural hot spring (Surya Kund, 94°C) near the temple — a sacred ritual.
Where: Surya Kund, near Yamunotri Temple
Free (DIY)
Dal Chawal
Basic but comforting lentil and rice meal at trail dhabas.
Where: Dhabas at Janki Chatti
₹80 – ₹150
Aloo Paratha
Stuffed flatbread — best energy food for the trek.
Where: Dhabas at Janki Chatti and trail stalls
₹50 – ₹80
Chai
Hot ginger tea at every rest stop on the trail.
Where: Trail tea stalls
₹10 – ₹20
Yamunotri is strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free. Carry dry snacks, chocolates, electrolytes, and medication for altitude. Food is scarce and expensive on the trail.
FAQs
- Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River and the first Char Dham in the pilgrimage circuit. The Yamunotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, and the Surya Kund hot spring nearby is a major attraction.
Best Places Similar
Gangotri
Gangotri, situated at 3,100 meters in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is the site of the Gangotri Temple dedicated to the River Goddess Ganga and the starting point for the trek to Gaumukh — the actual glacial source of the holy Ganges River. One of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Gangotri is believed to be the place where the sage Bhagirath meditated for thousands of years to bring the divine river Ganga to earth. The dramatic setting amid soaring Himalayan peaks, including the magnificent Bhagirathi group visible from the temple, makes Gangotri as visually awe-inspiring as it is spiritually significant.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the highest of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, sits at a staggering altitude of 3,583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, accessible only by an 18-kilometer trek through breathtaking Himalayan scenery. The ancient Kedarnath Temple, believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata and reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, stands surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped peaks — a setting of overwhelming natural grandeur and spiritual power. The temple is open only from May to November, and the annual opening ceremony with the Shiva idol's arrival is a profoundly moving experience.
Badrinath
Badrinath, one of the most revered Vishnu shrines in Hinduism and the final destination on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, sits at 3,133 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The colorful Badrinath Temple, framed by the towering Nilkantha Peak, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during its six-month opening season each year. The nearby Tapt Kund hot springs for ritual bathing, the mythologically significant Brahma Kapal ghat, and the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib nearby make Badrinath a destination of extraordinary spiritual and natural richness.
Nearby destinations
Gangotri
47 km · Gangotri, situated at 3,100 meters in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is the site of the Gangotri Temple dedicated to the River Goddess Ganga and the starting point for the trek to Gaumukh — the actual glacial source of the holy Ganges River. One of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Gangotri is believed to be the place where the sage Bhagirath meditated for thousands of years to bring the divine river Ganga to earth. The dramatic setting amid soaring Himalayan peaks, including the magnificent Bhagirathi group visible from the temple, makes Gangotri as visually awe-inspiring as it is spiritually significant.
Kinnaur Valley
60 km · Kinnaur Valley, nestled in the southeastern corner of Himachal Pradesh bordering Tibet, is a land of extraordinary contrasts where lush apple orchards meet barren Tibetan plateaus and ancient Hinduism blends seamlessly with Tibetan Buddhism. The spectacular Hindustan-Tibet Highway winds through the valley past cliff-hugging roads, deep gorges, and dramatically perched monasteries. Highlights include the sacred Kinnaur Kailash peak, the fortress-temple of Dhankar, and the charming village of Kalpa with its panoramic Kailash views.
Kedarnath
66 km · Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and the highest of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, sits at a staggering altitude of 3,583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, accessible only by an 18-kilometer trek through breathtaking Himalayan scenery. The ancient Kedarnath Temple, believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata and reconstructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, stands surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped peaks — a setting of overwhelming natural grandeur and spiritual power. The temple is open only from May to November, and the annual opening ceremony with the Shiva idol's arrival is a profoundly moving experience.
