One of the four sacred dhams of Uttarakhand, and revered in Hindu mythology, Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna. The Yamunotri shrines stands on the western flank of the Bandarpunch peak(20,731 ft). The temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The origin of the river Yamuna is the Champasar Glacier near Yamunotri. Though it is very difficult to reach the exact source of the holy river, pilgrims flock to the shrine which is open from May to November. Legend has it that a sage, Asit Muni, used to reside at this secluded spot. The hot springs here are also an attraction. From Rishikesh, 220 kms journey takes one to Hanuman Chatti where the motorable road ends. The remaining 13 kms to Yamunotri must be covered on foot or on ponies. The trail winds through rugged mountains and dense forests. Porters and palanquins are available on hire.

General Information:
Area :1 sq. km.
Population : 246 (1991 census)
Altitude : 3235 mtrs above sea level
Season : May-June
               September-October
Clothing (Summer) : Woolens
              (Winter) : Heavy Woolens
Language : Hindi, Garhwali, English
Local Transport : Horses/Dandies
Festivals : Makar Sankranti, Baishakhi, Basant
Local Transport: Buses/Taxis/Tempos/Auto-Rikshaws
Imp:- The temple and the township remains closed between November and May.

Accessibility
Rail: Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh (220 kms).
Road: Connections to Garhwal, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun. Some important road distances are : Dharasu - 107 kms, Tehri - 149 kms Rishikesh via Narendranagar-222 kms.

Places of Interest
Yamunotri Temple: The present temple was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th century. In 1923, the temple was destroyed by an earthquake, but subsequently rebuilt. Here a holy dipin the tank filled by hot springs, and cooking rice in its water are part of the rituals.

Surya Kund: There are a number of thermal springs in the vicinity of Yamunotri. The most important of these, Surya Kund, has a temperature of 190 deg F. Pilgrims tie rice and potatoes in a muslin cloth, and immerse it in the water to be cooked.

Divya Shila: A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri temple.

Accommodation

• Rest Houses

Shopping:
Objects used for ritual purposes are available in a number of small shops.

Excursions
Hanuman Chatti: The confluence of hanuman Ganga and yamuna rivers. Trekking route to Dodi Tal starts here. 13 kms from Yamunotri.

Jankichatti: 7 kms from Yamunotri, famous for thermal springs.

Barkot: An ancient temple, at distance of 49 kms.