Yamunotri Temple
In Hindu tradition, Yamunotri Dham stands as one of Uttarakhand's holiest pilgrimage sites amid Uttarkashi's Himalayan mountains. Yamunotri is the beginning site for the four sacred pilgrimages called Chardham in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas. The sacred temple for goddess Yamuna stands in Yamunotri. The great height of mountain peaks at Yamunotri towers above the glaciers alongside the flowing Yamuna. As the origin of India's second holiest river Yamuna, Yamunotri belongs to Chota Char Dham Yatra's sacred pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.
Goddess Yamuna
As per Hindu beliefs, Goddess Yamuna is the Yamuna River that flows across the country. People know her both as Yami and Yamini. Yamuna wears the name Yami in the ancient Vedic writings. Like her brother Yama she became a child of the Sun God since she is his twin sister. People think bathing in Yamuna cleans their souls completely and helps them avoid untimely death.
People tell many traditional stories about the Yamuna River. The tale tells us goddess descended from the sky to bless our planet's land. While resting on Himalayan Mountain Kalinda she gained her name Kalinda. People believe they can defeat the fear of death by bathing in her religious waters.
In 1839 the Tehri ruler Naresh Sudarshan Shah built the Yamunotri temple in the Himalayan mountains. The stunning Yamunotri mandir environment makes any visitor to this Chota Char Dham sacred place admire its beauty. A natural channel directs the Yamuna River to flow down the temple’s side where a black marble statue of Goddess Yamuna resides.
Architecture of the Main Shrine of the Yamunotri Dham
Black marble forms the Yamuna idol in the main shrine. The silver image of Goddess Yamuna receives worship inside the Yamunotri Mandir. The Yamunotri temple honors Goddess Yamuna Devi in its highest worship space. The Yamunotri temple builders used nearby mountain granite stones to create this temple with its superior craftsmanship. Rock sources from nearby lands help build the steps and stone pavement that form the temple entrance.
Within the primary hall of the Yamunotri Mandir called Garbha Griha or Sanctum Sanctorum visitors find the Goddess Yamuna’s silver statue adorned by many garlands. A Mandap welcomes visitors who come to this space for Darshan and to perform their prayers.
The mountain flanks have natural hot springs flowing just outside the temple area. The most significant Kund here is the Suryakund. The Divya Shila shrine receives its worship before anyone performs the puja to the god next to Suryakund. People in the temple make prasadam from the hot spring water by cooking rice and potatoes then put them in a bag to offer at the shrine. Such prepared rice is brought home as prasadam.
Additional Pertinent Temples
Surya Kund (The Pond of the Sun) : Most hot springs cluster around the Yamuna Devi Mandir including the remarkable Surya Kund. The mountain opens cracks that release extremely hot water into this area. People express their devotion to Goddess Yamuna by boiling grains and potatoes wrapped in fabric, especially muslin.
Shiva Shila (The Divine Stone) : Before offering prayers to Yamuna maa you should first perform a ritual on the reddish-brown rock situated next to the Surya Kund. According to the Skanda Purana physical contact with this holy rock results in spiritual freedom.
Yamunotri stays hot between 15 to 20 degrees Celsius during the day but drops under 0 degrees Celsius at night. During May and June, rain accompanies the season’s colder-than-average winter temperatures. The pilgrims may visit the Yamunotri Mandir during summer days. The location of Yamunotri causes its weather to shift rapidly and unexpectedly.
The region around Yamunotri faces monsoon landslides that block roads to the temple starting in late July or early August. Pilgrims should avoid using roads when monsoon season arrives. The temple usually remains inaccessible from late July through August because of heavy rains in the area.
Heavy snow covers Yamunotri and temperatures plunge during winter months from November through April. Snow lovers can make the best of snowfall, especially between late November to mid-March. At this time, Yamunotri temple is closed. For better travel conditions arrive at Yamunotri between April to June or September to November. The Yamunotri temple remains accessible between the last week of April and the second week of November.
Kharsali – Winter Seat of Yamunotri
Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand consists of a small village named Kharsali. The place stands at 2675 meters above sea level. Wintertime brings a lot of snow in Kharsali. Visitors rest at Goddess Yamuna’s temple in Yamunotri Temple during winter snowfall.
The first Shani Dev temple in India stands in Kharsali. As part of their Char Dham Yatra travelers first worship Lord Shani before heading to Yamunotri. People say the Yamuna goddess statue stays protected inside the Shani Dev temple during winter months. The temple with three levels stands built from stone blocks and wooden materials bound together with mortar. Local tradition holds that the Pandavas built this temple. The shrine houses the bronze statue of Lord Shani Dev near the sanctuaries of Chaya, Sangya, and Nag Devta.
On Bhai Dooj festival two days after Diwali the Yamuna goddess idol arrives at the temple where worshippers pay their respects through winter’s end.
Opening Date of Yamunotri Temple
The Yamunotri temple doors open to the public on the blessed Akshaya-Tritiya day which takes place during the first or last week of April each year.
Performing Pooja at Yamunotri Temple
The Yamunotri temple hosts two special Poojas among others the morning Mangal Aarti and evening Shayan Aarti. People who wish to worship God may buy a puja kit from the store next to the temple and ask the temple priests to perform the puja ritual for them. The space holds traditional Hindu items including a red sari, adornment jewelry, personal care items, and ritual objects.. The Yamunotri temple priests control all religious services at the Yamunotri temple.
Hanuman Chatti sits 13 kilometers from Yamunotri temple while Janki Chatti lies 6 kilometers from the temple. You may hire ponies, horses, or palanquin rides to reach the Yamunotri shrine. The driveable highway stretches 50 kilometers from Barkot to Jankichatti through Syanachatti Ranachatti and Hanumanchatti. Yamunotri mandir stands five kilometers from Jankichatti, with ponies and both dandy and kandhi ride options available for visitors.
You have several travel methods to choose from when going to Yamunotri temple.
By Air : Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun serves as the nearest airport. After arriving at Dehradun you need to move onward to Sahastradhara Helipad. After landing at Sahastradhara helipad follow the route toward Harsil. After arriving you will board a palki for transport to Yamunotri Mandir.
By Train : Rishikesh is the sole railway destination. Following your arrival you need to board a bus or taxi that serves the travel path. You can book shared jeeps and vehicles that match your needs at either Haridwar or Rishikesh transportation depots. Multiple train options go to each of the train stations at Kotdwar, Kathgodam, Haridwar, and Dehradun.
By Road/Trek : Your best options for reaching Yamunotri start at Dehradun and Barkot. When traveling to Yamunotri from Haridwar or Rishikesh your path should split at the Dharasu bifurcation. You can reach Yamunotri from Hanuman Chatti by traveling 5 km in a jeep to Phool Chatti then hiking 3 km to Janki Chatti and trekking the final 5 km to reach Yamunotri making an 8 km hike in total.
People gather to observe these meaningful celebrations throughout the area
During your Yamunotri Dham Yatra journey you will want to experience all the major festivals celebrated at the location. The area draws both pilgrims and vacationers because travelers enjoy the respected spiritual festivities. Festivals are observed on:
- Basant Panchmi : The Yamunotri temple performs special ceremonies on Basant Panchami day. The area hosts many special cultural occasions. People attend the complete event while wearing yellow attire.
- Phool Dei : People celebrate Phool Dei on the first day of March. During the visit, people deliver jaggery sweets, and rice to each residence. It is thought to bring wealth and goodwill. Local artists sing traditional music as people make Sei dishes to give to Devi Yamunotri.
- Olgia : During August the Olgia festival celebrates the yearly agricultural harvest in traditional honor. People also name the event Ghee Sankranti. On this special day, people put ghee on their foreheads and then eat their dal chapatis with ghee.
You can find many tourist spots surrounding Yamunotri Dham. Beyond its religious purpose, this area provides access to many exciting tourist locations. The different travel paths offer breathtaking natural views plus cultural experiences and serenity as they lead you from Hanuman Chatti’s spiritual stories to Saptarishi Kund’s distinctive flowers ending at the lovely villages of Harsil and Gangotri.
- Hanuman Chatti : The location connects Hanuman Ganga’s and Yamuna’s waterways. Two important figures in Hindu mythology met their first time at Hanuman Chatti. Dodi Tal (3,307 meters) trail heads off from this location.
- Saptrishi Kund : A beautiful deep blue lake called Saptarishi Kund exists ten kilometers from the Yamunotri Temple. Scientists recognize the Champasar Glacier as the true beginning of the Yamuna River at its base. The unique Brahm Kamal flowers make Brahm Kamal bloom the signature trait of this kund.
- Harsil : Harsil is an isolated Himalayan village protected by snow mountains, pine woods and apple plantations near Gangotri Dham. In its picturesque setting, Harsil stands preserved like the Little Switzerland of India among old temples and traditional homes.
- Gangotri : Gangotri serves as a small village centering around the Goddess Ganga temple in Uttarkashi. You can reach the river’s real beginning five miles north of Gangotri temple by walking to Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier. The river takes the name Bhagirathi at its source from Gaumukh but transforms into Ganga when it meets Alaknanda near Devprayag town. Darshan is currently available at Kapat.
