Yamunotri Tourism and Travel Guide

Yamunotri, located in Uttarakhand, is one of the most significant religious places for devotees. Thronged by hundreds of devotees annually, it is one of the four sites of India’s “Chhota Char Dham” pilgrimage. Situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, this city is the source of the Yamuna river. The main attractions here are the temples devoted to Goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs at Janki Chatti, both for tourists and devotees. Wrapped in snow for a major part of the year, the area has several hot water springs, where devotees take a "holy dip" and worship the goddess. The temple only opens on the day of ‘Akshaya Tritya’ – in the last week of April or first week of May – and closes on the day of Diwali. Yamunotri is on an average elevation of about 4,000 metres. Trains only go up to to the town of Rishikesh and motorable roads only till Janaki Chatti, after which you will have to set out on a day-long trek to reach Yamunotri. The trekking route is picturesque with gushing mountain streams, boulders, waterfalls and hot springs surrounded by dense forests over mountainous terrain, but it is a little tricky. Do research a little bit about what you should and shouldn't carry lest you face trouble during your journey.