Yamunotri Dham – the seat of Goddess Yamuna is the source of River Yamuna. Located 30 Kms North of Uttakashi, it is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched on the top of Bandar Poonch Parvat.
According to legend, Goddess Yamuna is the daughter of Lord Surya (Sun God) and Devi Sanjna (Goddess of Conscience) and is the sister of Lord Yama, the God of Death. It is believed that performing holy ablutions in Yamuna guarantees a painless death.
It is said that in ancient times, a wise sage called Asit Muni lived here and he used to take a bath in both Ganges and the Yamuna rivers on daily basis. As he grew old, he was unable to walk to the Gangotri and unable to fulfill his desire. It was his compassion that brought a stream of Ganges opposite Yamunotri for him. The temple of Yamuna has a black marble idol of the Goddess, and was constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal.
The main attractions at Yamunotri are – the temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs at Janki Chatti ( about 7 Kms away). The shrine is located at the foot of the hill, however the source of Yamuna – Champasar Glacier is located about 1 Km further up. The approach to the glacier is extremely difficult therefore the pilgrims offer puja at the temple itself. There are some hot water springs close to the temple where devotees prepare rice and potatoes, tied in muslin cloth, to offer at the shrine by dipping them in these hot water springs. The cooked Rice is taken back home as prasadam. Surya Kund is the most important kund and there is a Divya Shila close to it which is worshiped before visiting the temple.
The temple and the place opens every year on the auspicious day of the Akshaya Tritiya, which generally falls during the last week of April, or the first week of May. The temple always closes on the sacred day of Diwali in mid-October – first week of November, with a brief ceremony.
The pujaris of Yamunotri come from the village of Kharsali near Janki Chatti. They are the administrators of the sacred place and perform religious rites according to the Shastras. The Pujaris returns to their villages during winter months as valley is covered with snow and come back with the melting of the snow next summer to re-open the temple.
How to Reach Yamunotri Dham
By Air: The nearest airport to Yamunotri is the Jolly Grant Airport. It is located just 210 kilometers from the Dham. The airport is well connected to Delhi & Mumbai and thus, the visitors can easily avail flights from the capital and metro city. After reaching the Jolly Grant Airport, one can avail a taxi to reach Hanuman Chatti.
By Rail: There are two railway stations close to Yamunotri – Rishikesh and Dehradun. The Rishikesh railway station is 200 kilometers before Yamunotri on NH58 and the Dehradun station is 175 kilometers from the Dham. Both the stations are properly connected through the railway networks of India. Hence, boarding a train to Rishikesh or Dehradun is convenient for a traveler. Once reached the Rishikesh station, visitors can take a bus or taxi to reachfurther destinations.
By Road: Yamunotri is not directly connected with the motorable roads, even the trek begins from Hanuman Chatti. However, Hanuman Chatti is well connected with the major destinations of Uttarakhand by roads. Buses from Rishikesh are easily available to reach Hanuman Chatti.
Places to Visit in Yamunotri Dham
There are various religious places amid the pious surroundings of the Yamunotri Dham. A few to name are stated as follows:
Surya Kund: Located near the holy shrine of Yamunotri, Surya Kund is a natural hot water spring. The temperature of this spring is around 1900 °F. This temperature is quite sufficient to cook food within minutes. The water of this thermal spring is used to make prasad of the main temple.
Divya Shila: As per the beliefs, it is important to pay homage at Divya Shila before entering the main shrine. Divya Shila is a strong rock pillar situated near the Surya Kund. It is deemed that this rock pillar is the idol of the deity and devotees need to bow their head down here first.
Sapt Rishi Kund: Another natural marvel counted among the best places for sightseeing in Yamunotri is the Sapt Rishi Kund. This natural lake with grayish blue water and pebbly bank is the source of River Yamuna. Adventure lovers are fond of visiting this lake as the trail to the Kund is not everyone’s cup of tea. This beautiful lake is also acknowledged for the presence of the exotic Braham Kamal (a rare flora species). So, basically, the Saptrishi Lake is a splendid spot that provides picturesque vistas of the nature.
Mukhba Village: It is a small village and the home of the idol of Goddess Ganga during winters. The idol of the Hindu River Goddess Ganga is brought down from Gangotri after Diwali. The idol is worshipped at Mukhba village throughout the winter when Gangotri is snowbound and inaccessible.
Kedartaal:The strenuous trek to the picturesque Kedartaal initiates from Gangotri. Kedartaal can be reached by a difficult 14km trek via Bhoj Kharak and Kedar Kharak. Do book a guide while visiting Kedar taal. The immaculate water of Kedartaal is situated at an elevation of 4,250mts above sea level.