Sacred river
Yamuna - source near Champasar glacier
॥ ॐ यमुनायै नमः ॥
Yamunotri Dham
सूर्य-पुत्री, यम की भगिनी - चार धाम का प्रथम तीर्थ।
The sacred source of the Yamuna and the westernmost - and first - shrine of the Char Dham circuit, at 3,293 metres beneath the Bandarpoonch peak. By the steaming Surya Kund, pilgrims lower bundles of rice and potatoes into near-boiling glacial water and watch them cook in minutes - a living prasad offered nowhere else. Let DharmikYatra arrange your darshan, trek and stay.
Source of the Yamuna First of the Char Dham Surya Kund cooking ritual Seasonal · Apr/May - Nov
Goddess Yamuna - enshrined as a black-marble murti with her vahana, the tortoiseयमुनोत्री धामॐ यमुनायै नमःYamune Namah
3,293m
Altitude
88-90°C
Surya Kund
5-6 km
Trek up
यमुना माता · The first Char Dham
Sister of Yama, daughter of the Sun
Presiding deities: Goddess Yamuna - enshrined as a black-marble murti with her vahana, the tortoise. She is the daughter of Surya the Sun God and the twin sister of Yama, lord of death.
ॐ यमुनायै नमः
Yamunotri is the westernmost and first shrine of the Char Dham, whose pradakshina runs from west to east. Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun God Surya and the twin sister of Yama, lord of death; bathing in her waters and offering tarpan here is held to protect from untimely death, grant a peaceful crossing to the other shore, and free devotees from the torments of Yama. Pilgrims pay respects first to the Divya Shila, a sacred rock at the temple entrance, before entering the sanctum and lowering rice bundles into the boiling Surya Kund as a living, cooking offering to the Goddess.
Surya Kund
88-90°C spring - prasad cooks in minutes
Altitude
3,293 m, beneath Bandarpoonch
Approach
5-6 km trek from Janki Chatti
History & heritage
A stone temple where food cooks in the spring
Yamuna has been venerated since Vedic times as a goddess of love, mercy and compassion - the gentle sister who, by legend, tied a rakhi on her brother Yama and won from him the boon that whoever bathes in her waters on Yama Dwitiya shall be spared his torments. The present Garhwali stone temple’s builder is disputed - sources variously credit Maharani Gularia of Jaipur, Sudarshan Shah of Tehri (1839) and Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal - after earlier shrines were damaged by the harsh mountain weather; it has since been rebuilt more than once against avalanche and flood.
Yamunotri is managed by the local Yamunotri temple committee and the priests of Kharsali village. Its singular wonder is the Surya Kund - a thermal spring, reportedly 88-90°C, beside the temple, where pilgrims tie rice and potatoes in muslin and lower them in; the food is fully cooked within minutes and offered as prasad to the Goddess, a ritual found at no other Char Dham. The shrine opens on Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Yama Dwitiya (Bhai Dooj), after which the Goddess is worshipped at her parental home in Kharsali village near Janki Chatti.
Source of the YamunaTemple by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur · 19th CSurya Kund - 88-90°C cooking springFirst of the Char Dham · open Apr/May - Nov
Darshan & rituals
Divya Shila, darshan & the Surya Kund prasad
The way to Yamunotri is a 5-km climb from Janki Chatti, on foot, pony or palki. At the top, pilgrims first honour the Divya Shila, then take darshan, then offer rice at the Surya Kund and bathe in the warm Gauri Kund.
Darshan
| Mangala Aarti | 6:30 AM |
|---|---|
| Morning darshan | 6:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Evening darshan | 2:00 PM - 7:30 PM |
| Sandhya Aarti | 7:30 PM |
Yamunotri has no separate VIP darshan. Timings are indicative and shift with festivals, weather and the trail condition; message us and we will share the latest schedule and pony/palki arrangements for your dates.
Dress code & what to carry
Wear trekking clothes for the 5-km climb from Janki Chatti, then change to traditional attire before entering the sanctum. Heavy woollens and sturdy shoes are essential. Photography is allowed in the courtyard and at Surya Kund / Gauri Kund, but not inside the sanctum during worship.
Sacred calendar
Opening, Yamuna festivals & closing
Yamunotri is the first Char Dham to open each year. Opening and closing dates follow the Hindu calendar and are announced in advance, with closing fixed on Yama Dwitiya - the day after Diwali.
Char Dham season
- Akshaya Tritiya (late Apr / early May)Kapaat Udghatan - Temple Opening The first Char Dham to open; the Goddess returns from Kharsali
- Yama Dwitiya / Bhai Dooj (expected ~11 Nov 2026; not yet officially confirmed as of 3 Sep 2026)Kapaat Bandh - Temple Closing (Yama Dwitiya) Deity moved to Kharsali for the winter, the day after Diwali
Festivals
- March / AprilYamuna Jayanti Celebrates the birth of Goddess Yamuna
- 25 October 2026Sharad Purnima Full-moon worship of the Goddess
Winter abode
- 14 January 2027 (some regional almanacs observe 15 January)Makar Sankranti at Kharsali Winter worship at the historic Someshwar temple
Dates may shift slightly closer to the day. Message us for the latest schedule.
Getting there
Reaching Yamunotri by road, rail and air
Yamunotri is the westernmost and, for most pilgrims, the first stop on the Char Dham circuit. The road ends at Janki Chatti, from where the shrine is reached on foot, by pony or by palki.
By road
Via Barkot to Janki Chatti - roughly 180-220 km from Dehradun
Sources vary considerably on the exact distance and route; most pilgrims break the drive with an overnight halt at Barkot before the final climb. The road is narrow and mountainous and closes intermittently for landslides in the monsoon.
By rail
Rishikesh or Dehradun railway station - approximately 175-210 km
Both stations have regular connections to Delhi and beyond; the rest of the journey, via Barkot, is by road.
By air
Dehradun (Jolly Grant, DED) - roughly 190-210 km
The nearest airport, most of a day away by road via Barkot. Confirm the route condition with us before booking transfers, especially in the monsoon.
Distances and drive times are approximate, vary noticeably by source, and lengthen considerably in the monsoon and during heavy Char Dham traffic. Message us and we will plan the safest transfer and any overnight halt for your dates.
Divine Yatra, arranged
How DharmikVibes arranges your Yamunotri yatra
No online checkout, no chaos. Tell us your dates and a real coordinator arranges every part of your Char Dham yatra - darshan, the drive to Janki Chatti, pony or palki for the 5-km climb, stays and a guide. There are no prices on this page; everything is quoted transparently on WhatsApp before you commit.
Darshan & Surya Kund prasad
Guided darshan, respects at the Divya Shila, and the unique rice-bundle offering at the Surya Kund.
Trek, pony & palki
The 5-km climb from Janki Chatti made easy with pony, palki or porter, paced for your comfort.
Travel & transfers
Rishikesh/Haridwar circuits via Barkot to Janki Chatti, paced gently for comfort.
Stays near the trailhead
GMVN rest houses and verified lodges at Janki Chatti and Barkot for a restful overnight halt.
Verified guides & pandits
Pandits for tarpan and puja, and guides for the story of Yamuna, Yama and the Surya Kund ritual.
Senior, NRI & solo-women care
Palki for the climb, gentle pacing for altitude, a coordinator throughout and timezone-friendly planning for NRIs.
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संपर्क करें · Get in touch
Plan your Yamunotri yatra
Tell us your dates and how many devotees - our coordinators arrange darshan, travel, the trek and pony/palki, and stays. We are humans, not a booking bot. There is no online checkout and no prices on this site.
+91 92203 52244 - Fastest reply - a real coordinator
Yatra & darshan
dharmikyatra@dharmikvibes.com
Travel & logistics
travel@dharmikvibes.com
Emergency
+91-112 · Police 100 · Tourist Helpline 1364 (Uttarakhand) / 1363 (national) · Pilgrim Medical 108
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
When does Yamunotri Dham open and close?
Yamunotri is the first of the Himalayan Char Dhams to open each year and, like them, is open only about six months. It opens on Akshaya Tritiya (late April or early May) and closes on Yama Dwitiya / Bhai Dooj (October - November). The best months are May - June and September - October; the July - August monsoon brings landslides on the Garhwal hill roads and is best avoided. In winter the Goddess is worshipped at Kharsali village.
How do I reach Yamunotri and how long is the trek?
The road ends at Janki Chatti (sources vary, roughly 180-220 km from Dehradun airport / Haridwar railway, via Barkot - confirm with us before booking transfers). From there it is a 5-6 km uphill trek to the temple, which can be done on foot, by pony or by palki. We arrange the drive, the overnight halt and the pony or palki.
What is the Surya Kund cooking ritual?
Beside the temple is the Surya Kund, a thermal spring reportedly around 88-90°C (no primary source states an exact figure). Pilgrims tie rice and potatoes in a cloth bundle and lower it in; within minutes the food is fully cooked and offered as prasad to Goddess Yamuna - a ritual found at no other Char Dham. The nearby Gauri Kund is a warmer pool for ritual bathing.
Is Yamunotri suitable for senior citizens and NRIs?
Yes, with planning. The 5-6 km climb is the one demanding part; we arrange a palki (carried chair) or pony so seniors can do darshan comfortably. We add gentle pacing for altitude, a coordinator throughout, verified hygienic stays and timezone-friendly planning for NRI families.
Can I combine Yamunotri with the full Char Dham?
Yes. Yamunotri is the first and westernmost stop. The traditional circuit runs Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. Tell us your dates and we will build a single well-paced pilgrimage covering all four dhams.
What should I expect on arrival at Yamunotri?
Janki Chatti is where the road ends and the trek begins - footwear stalls, pony and palki operators and simple dhabas cluster around the trailhead. There is no large official cloakroom; most pilgrims leave heavier luggage at their stay in Barkot or Janki Chatti and carry only a small bag up. Footwear comes off just before the sanctum. Prasad (rice and potatoes cooked in the Surya Kund, plus simple sweets) is bought from stalls near the temple rather than an official counter. Photography is generally fine outside the sanctum but avoid it during the aarti itself - follow the priests' guidance on the day.
Is Yamunotri accessible for elderly or disabled visitors?
The 5-6 km climb from Janki Chatti is the one real obstacle - there is no wheelchair-accessible route, and no official page describes a wheelchair-loan facility. Ponies and palkis (a chair carried by porters) are available and widely used by elderly pilgrims and anyone who cannot walk the full trek; the shrine precinct itself at the top is small and level. Tell us in advance and we will book the palki or pony and pace the day around it - an early start helps avoid the busiest hours on the trail.