Marking the emergence point of the holy river of Yamuna and tracing its origin glacier to Champasar, Yamunotri dham is the starting point of the Chota char dham yatra of Uttarakhand. This is one of the rarely occurring temples dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and is known for being the westernmost shrine of the Garhwal Himalayas. The entire region is dotted with numerous naturally occurring thermal springs which hold water of medicinal value. Perched on a flank of the famous Bandarpoonch Parvat and surrounded by unmatched lush greenery and cascading waterfalls, reaching up to the main dham shrine of Yamunotri is considered to be quiet a difficult yet an extremely rewarding task. Apart from the obvious spirituality in which the entire region remains enveloped the place is also known for its scenic views and the stunning glories of the pure Himalayan beauty.
Location
Perched on an elevation of 3,293 metres above sea level within the district of Uttarkashi, Yamunotri Temple is one of the most important pillars of the Char Dham Yatra. The temple is built right next to the gushing holy river of Yamuna. The main temple shrine is flanked on all the sides by the undulating terrain of the Garhwal Himalaya. Famous for being the westernmost shrine of Garhwal Himalayas the last motorable road to Yamunotri is Janki Chatti and can further be reached after covering a trekking journey distance of almost 6 kms which can also be completed via ponies or Doli services.
How to Reach
The last motor head of Yamunotri dham is Janki Chatti which is well connected to a number of big and small cities of the surrounding regions like Dehradun, Chamba, Tehri etc. if you want to visit Yamunotri dham via train then the last and the closest rail head for Yamunotri dham is situated in Rishikesh from where you can also avail the services of a shared cab or even hire a taxi service for your travel purposes. There are several ways through which you can easily reach Yamunotri Dham. Given below is the most convenient way of getting to Yamunotri:
- By Road – The best and the most convenient way of reaching Yamunotri dham is making your way via Dehradun and Barkot. Regular bus services, cabs and shared taxis are also available which can be availed by the pilgrims easily. In case you have already decided on taking the Haridwar / Rishikesh route then the road will bifurcate from Dharasu and head on to Yamunotri dham. The distance from Hanuman Chatti to Phool Chatti is situated at a distance of 5 km and can be covered easily via a jeep journey. Then from Phool Chatti you will be making your way to Janki Chatti and from here on your foot journey of 5 to 6 km will commence for Yamunotri dham.
- Brief Route Map from Delhi – Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Dharasu – Barkot – Syana Chatti – Janki Chatti – Yamunotri
- By Helicopter – If you are on a shortage of time then make sure to avail the services of helicopter journey to Yamunotri. Typically the entire Chardham Yatra by Helicopter commences from the Sahastradhara airport at Dehradun early in the morning and concludes the same day. This option is also one of the most convenient ways of travelling to Yamunotri if you also have a senior citizen with you. The helicopter will reach Kharsali in 45 minutes and from here on you will be escorted to the temple with the help of palkis or ponies depending on your preference.
Best Time to Visit
The months of October to March are the winter months where the pilgrim journeys are shut down for the season and the place is covered in snow. During this time if you still wish to go on Yamunotri darshan then visiting her winter home in Kharsali, which is located in close proximity to the main temple dham. Summer months of April to end of June are considered to be the most favorable and the best time to visit where the temperature stays between 6 to 20 degree Celsius. Remember never plan anything for the monsoon months of July to September since most of the services to the dham remains suspended and the sudden and dramatic weather changes remain uncertain and torrential.
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