Yamunotri
Located at an altitude of 3,300 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is one of the four destinations of Chardham pilgrimage. Situated amidst the Garhwal Hills, Yamunotri is naturally bestowed with abundant charm and beauty. It is encircled by lofty peaks on all sides and lies adjacent to the Indo-China border. From the turquoise lakes to the snow-clad summits, the place has several romantic allures in store. The presence of Himalayan ranges on all sides make Yamunotri look even more divine and beautiful.
Highly honored as the origin of the royal river Yamuna, Yamunotri is famous for its thermal springs and glaciers that make it the most important stopover in the schedule of a Hindu pilgrim. According to Hindu myths and traditions, a holy dip in river ‘Yamuna’ in Yamunotri secures a painless death to the devotee. A visit to this holy place would prove to be a window to the rich Hindu rituals, rites and culture.
When you are ready to go for the Chardham Yatra, Yamunotri is your very first pilgrimage spot to visit. Yamunotri temple - the biggest crowd puller is dedicated to Hindu goddess Yamuna. Between April and October, the Yamunotri Shrine Board turns into a center of various religious activities as thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this temple to take the blessings of the goddess Yamuna.
An exhilarating and thrilling place in the footsteps in the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, Yamunotri proffers picturesque surroundings with the gushing cascades, lush meadows and awesome shrubs. Subjugated by intense forests and mind stilling views of mountain peaks, the trek to Yamunotri is magnificent. From Hanuman Chatti, one can undertake a track of around 5-6 km to get to Yamunotri shrine. This tracking route will introduce you to the natural beauty that makes up Yamunotri.
There are many tourist places and sightseeing options in Yamunotri where visitors can spend their leisure time with their family and friends. Explore the majestic beauty of river Yamuna and famous picnic spots for an unforgettable vacation in Yamunotri. Key attractions of Yamunotri include:
- Yamunotri Temple
- Surya Kund
- Divya Shilla
Yamunotri is considered to be very sacred for being one of the crucial destinations of the Chardham Yatra. If you are planning to travel to this place, you can reach there by rail, road and air.
Reaching Yamunotri By Air: The nearest airport, Jolly Grant airport, is at a distance of 205 km from Yamunotri. You can catch daily flights to the Jolly Grant airport from New Delhi and various other parts of India. After reaching this airport at Dehradun, you can hire a bus or a cab to reach Yamunotri via Hanuman Chatti. You can also hire helicopter services from Dehradun till Yamunotri.
Reaching Yamunotri By Road: Yamunotri is well connected by motorable roads to all the major places in Uttarakhand and outside. You will find several buses and taxis running to Hanuman Chatti from different major places in the state like Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Barkot and Rishikesh. Hanuman Chatti is just 14 km from Yamunotri.
Reaching Yamunotri By Train: The nearest rail heads to Yamunotri are Dehradun and Rishikesh. Dehradun railway station is at 170 km from Yamunotri while Rishikesh railway station is at 210 km from this town. Both Dehradun and Rishikesh are very well connected by railway networks with all major places of India. Once you are at Rishikesh railway station or Dehradun railway station, you will find many cabs that will take you to Hanuman Chatti, from where Yamunotri is just a few kilometers away.
If you are traveling to Yamunotri, there are various nearby places that must be visited to make your trip more enjoyable. All these nearby places can be visited as a day trip to Yamunotri.
- Hanuman Chatti
- Barkot
- Dodi Tal
- Uttarkashi