Yamunotri Temple is the first temple or a beginning point for Chota Char Dham Yatra. The temple is situated at an elevation of 4,421 m above sea level in the Garhwal Himalayan range Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state.
The temple of Yamunotri is one of the four temples of Chota Char Dham Yatra, and also the main source of the sacred river Yamunotri. People believed that the revered Sage Asit Muni used to reside here.
The sacred yatra of Yamunotri Temple is incomplete without making the potatoes and rice in the hot spring water at Surya Kund near the sacred temple. Pilgrims offer this to the god inside the temple and take the cooked rice to their home in the form of Prasad.
Yamunotri temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna the main idol of Goddess Yamuna worshipped inside the temple of Yamunotri. After the river Ganga, the Yamuna river is the second most holy river in India. A bath in the fresh or pure water of river Yamuna is believed to clean all the sins and protect people from a painful death.
This Temple of Yamunotri is built by the King of Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah in 1839. In 19th century temple was damaged by natural disaster. After this the Maharani of Jaipur Gularia devi built again this temple.
Some legends said that a revered sage Asit Muni resides at Yamunotri and he used to bath in Yamunotri and Gangotri river every day. When he becomes old he was not able to go and bathe in river Gangas, then a stream of Ganga appeared on the opposite side of Yamunotri river for the Sage Asit Muni.
Another story about Yamunotri is that Lord Hanuman visit Yamunotri after burning the golden Lanka of Ravana's. Lord Hanuman doused the fire of his tail in the chilled water of river Yamuna. That is why the peak has its name "Banderpooch" Bander means "Monkey" and Pooch means "Tail".
Goddess Yamuna was a daughter of Hindu God Surya and the twin sister of Yama- the god of death, Goddess Yamuna is also known as the lady of life.
Yamunotri Temple opens only for six months in the month of April / May. Generally, the temple of Yamunotri opens in the last week of April or the first week of May every year on the very special day of Akshaya Tritiya.
Yamunotri temple remains closed for six months due to the climatic condition of the place. There is heavy snowfall occurs every year due to this the temple closed for six months in the month of November. Temple closed every year on the next day of Diwali.
During the winter season, the temple remains closed and the holy idol of the presiding deity in the temple is shifted to Kharsali village where bhakts worshipped the deity for the next six months.
Opening Date of Yamunotri Temple : 03 May 2022
Closing Dates of Yamunotri Temple 26 Oct 2022 (on Bhai Dooj)
The Yamunotri Dham Temple opens every day at 6 am and closed at 8 pm at night. Every day the darshan timing in the Shrine of Yamunotri is 6 am to 8 pm.
There is a short break in the temple every day in which the temple closed for 2 hours. From 12 pm to 2 pm temple closed for pilgrims. After this at 2 pm temple once again open for pilgrims to darshan the goddess Yamunotri.
Opening Time of Yamunotri Temple : 06:00 am
The Closing time of Yamunotri Temple : 08:00 pm
Afternoon Break Timing of Yamunotri Temple : 12:00 pm - 02:00 pm
Yamunotri is not only about the pilgrimage tour. Yamunotri has many more things to do. You can do many types of activities in Yamunotri. Here are the following activities to do:
The Aarti timing of the Yamunotri temple is Mangal aarti which starts at 06:30 am in the morning and the Shayan Aarti in the evening which starts at 07:30 pm. These Aarti in the morning and evening is done by Pujaris of the Yamunotri temple.
Mangal Aarti in Morning : 06:30 am
Shayan Aarti in Evening : 07:30 pm
There are many festivals celebrated in Yamunotri. All these festivals are being celebrated here with joy and great zeal. You have to attend these festivals in Gangotri once in your life. By witnessing these festivals you will feel like your one of the most beautiful dream comes true. These are the following festivals which are celebrated in Yamunotr.
Baisakhi : It is a popular festival of Uttarakhand which is celebrated in the month of April on the occasion of the beginning of another year. When the sun moves from one constellation to the other constellation. Many festivals are celebrated by the Uttarakhands people each constellation is marked with fairs and festivals like Fooldei, Bikhaulti, Harela, Khatarua, Ghee Sankranti, etc.
Basant Panchami : This festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated to mark the ending of winter and the arrival of springs. People wear yellow color clothes to celebrate this festival in Yamunotri temple. Special pooja at the temple of Yamunotri are performed on this day.
Phool Dei : This festival is celebrated in the month of March on 1st day. In this festival of Phool Dei people of villages near Yamunotri or village in Uttarakhand mostly the young girls visit the neighboring houses and gift them a plate which is filled by flowers, Coconuts, sweet and rice. People believe that Phooldei brings prosperity in their life.
Olgia : Olgia is also known as Ghee Sankranti. On this festival of Olgia people eats Ghee and Dal Chapattis. According to tradition some years back people used to gift their maternal uncles and father-in-law at the festival of Olgia.
Yamunotri temple is open only for six months in a year in the month of April/ May. It remains closed for six months due to the climatic condition of the place. The Yamunotri temple is situated at a very high altitude because of the height of the temple the climate remains cool in the Summer season also.
The temple remains close in winters for six months because the place witnessed heavy snowfall in the winter season every year.
May and June are the peak season for pilgrims. In these two months, there are so many pilgrims visit Yamunotri Temple.
Summer : The temple of Yamunotri open in the season of Summer and also it is the best time to visit Yamunotri dham. In the month of April/ May - June the temperature remains cool or moderate in the summer season.
Monsoon : The place witnessed heavy rainfall in the monsoon season. There are high chances of landslides and floods on the route of Yamunotri.
Winter : In winters the doors of the main temple Yamunotri are closed for six months for pilgrims. There is heavy snowfall every year that's why the temple is closed for pilgrims. The Yamunotri dham is closed from November or from the day after the popular festival of Hindu religion "Diwali".
Yamunotri is not connected by motorable roads. You cannot travel directly to Yamunotri dham by road. You have to trek 6 km from Hanuman Chatti to reach Yamunotri temple.
Yamunotri is the beginning of the Chota char dham circuit. You can travel by road to Hanuman Chatti. Hanuman Chatti is well connected by the motorable roads after this you have to trek 6 km from here to reach Yamunotri Dham.
By Road : Yamunotri Dham is not connected by the motorable roads. You can reach Hanuman Chatti by roads then you have to trek 6 km to reach the temple of Yamunotri. You can travel by bus or hire a taxi or cab to reach Hanuman Chatti.
By Air : Yamunotri has not any airport. The nearest airport to reach Yamunotri temple is Jolly Grant Airport which is situated in Dehradun at a distance of 200 km. From here you can board a bus or hire a taxi to reach Hanuman Chatti where the trek of Yamunotri Dham starts.
By Train : Yamunotri is not connected with by railway. The nearest railway station to reach Yamunotri temple is Dehradun Railway station which is 171 km, Rishikesh railway station which is situated at a distance of 211 km and the Haridwar railway station is situated at a distance of 224 km from Yamunotri dham.
Yamunotri Popular Route : Rishikesh → Narendranagar (16 km) → Chamab (46 km) → Brahmkhal (15 km) → Barkot (40 km) → SayanaChatti (27 km) → HanumanChatti (6 km) → PhoolChatti (5 km) → JankiChatti (3 km) → Yamunotri (6 km)
There are many places to see in Yamunotri. It is not just a pilgrimage tour but it has lots of things or places to explore. It has many trekking destinations and a beautiful village to visit. These are some places to see in Yamunotri temple are:
Ans : April to June and from September to November is the best time to visit Yamunotri. because in monsoon the place witnesses heavy rainfall which causes landslide on the route of Yamunotri.
Ans : Summers are the best season to visit because the place remains cold or moderate in the summer season from April to June. In Monsoon this place witnesses heavy rainfall which causes many landslides on the route of Yamunotri. In winter from September to November Yamunotri's temperature was so cold.
Ans : No, There is no atm facility available in Yamunotri. You have to withdraw your money from Barkot.
Ans : Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport for Yamunotri which is situated at Dehradun at a distance of 200 km from Yamunotri.
Ans Dehradun railway station is the nearest railway station for Yamunotri which is situated at a distance of 171 km from Yamunotri.
Ans : Yamunotri temple is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state.
Ans : Yes you can easily travel Yamunotri by helicopter. There are many helicopter service provider companies and travel agencies provide you the helicopter service.
Ans : You have to trek 6 km from Hanumanchatti to reach Yamunotri.
Ans : The temple of Yamunotri opens on the special day of Akshaya Tritya and close on the next day of Diwali. In 2022 temple opens on 03 May 2022 and close on 26 Oct 2022.
Ans : The temple opens at at 6 am and closes at 8 pm every day. there is a short break from 12 pm to 2 pm in which the temple remains closed.