One of the most revered destinations in the Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand, India, Shri Yamunotri Temple is a famous pilgrimage spot dedicated to Goddess Yamuna.
This holy temple is located at a height of roughly 3,293 meters and marks the starting point of the Yamuna River, sacred to many in India.
Serving as the first destination in the Char Dham Yatra, Yamunotri mandir is situated amid sky-high mountains, thick woods, and stream-filled valleys.
After a long but beautiful trek, the temple welcomes calm and blissful vibes, which makes it so much more energetic and exhilarating that the number of people come each year to get a firsthand experience of the beautiful place and its habitats.
Our Yamunotri Dham pilgrimage tour packages offer a comprehensive spiritual journey to the source of the Yamuna River, nestled in the sacred Garhwal Himalayas.
The Yamunotri Yatra packages for 2025 include transportation, accommodation, guided walks, and a visit to the revered Yamunotri Temple.
The packages commence from cities such as Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and other popular destinations across India. Some packages also include helicopter services to save time.
These packages cater to a wide range of preferences, from budget-friendly trekking options to luxurious experiences, making them suitable for all individuals—whether they seek spiritual fulfillment, sightseeing, or leisure. Additionally, they allow tourists to immerse themselves in and explore the breathtaking natural beauty of the region.
Dating back to a period of ancient times, the beginning of Shri Yamunotri Dham temple is attributed to Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. Ever since this shrine came into being, it has been a cherished place of worship for the Hindus, particularly as one of the sites of the most sacred Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand. It is said that Sage Asit Muni lived in this place, who would take a dip in the Ganga and Yamuna every day. Due to several natural disasters, the temple has been restored many times. The most recent edifice was constructed in the nineteenth century and has managed to maintain its enduring quality and historical value to countless tourists and devotees over the years.
Yamunotri Temple has a very simplistic architecture. Built from granite stones, the Yamunotri temple consists of a garbha griha (sanctum) and a mandap where devotees assemble for prayers. Within this sanctum, a black ebony marble idol of Yamuna decorated with intricate carvings and garlands stands in a shrine along with a white stone idol of Ganga.
The temple features a conical-shaped structure with red finished areas on top of the temple, and the steps as well as its structure are made of stones from the surroundings. There are hot spring systems such as Surya Kund and a cold spring called Gouri Kund. The overall grace of the temple is in its simplicity and devotion, which helps the devotees in fully engaging with nature and spirituality while being there.
Yamunotri Yatra is highly auspicious for Hindus since it is the birthplace of the holy river Yamuna, who is considered to be Yama's sister, the God of Death. The Hindus believe that a visit to Yamunotri is good to wash away one’s sins and ward off premature death. The Yamuna, like a loving mother, is worshiped for the spiritual cleansing she offers to all her children, which they believe to be the ultimate grace and peace. Yamunotri is also the initiation point of the Char Dham Yatra—a trip to the four holy places that promotes spiritual resurgence through interaction with the deities and the elements.
Yamunotri Temple gets opened for devotees each year on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, which falls in the month of April or May, signifying the auspicious beginning of the Char Dham Yatra. This temple remains open throughout the summer season and closes just before the commencement of deep winter, which is at the time of celebration of the festival of Yama Dwitiya (Bhai Dooj), which falls somewhere in the month of October or early November.
At the time of opening, the idol of Goddess Yamuna is, as expected, paraded from her abode in Kharsali, where she rests during the winter, to her shrine in the summer, an event that is filled with song and ritual. This process also takes place at the end of the pilgrimage season, with the idol being transported back to Kharsali for winter worship. All these take place within a particular time frame that is devotional in nature and is referred to as the Yamunotri pilgrimage.
Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, Yamunotri Dham offers different extremes of weather all year round. Summers, that is, from May to June, are moderate, with temperatures ranging from 6°C to 20°C. This makes it comfortable for pilgrims. The monsoon season that lasts from July to September experiences continuous heavy downpours, which at times makes the trek impossible as there are landslides and muddy terrains. In October, winter sets in, causing temperatures to drop significantly. Due to excessive snowfall, the temple is closed for visitors as the ambience becomes very harsh, with temperatures even going below freezing. Yamunotri can be best visited in the summer.
The Aarti ritual at the Yamunotri Temple takes place two times a day, which adds to the spirituality of the place. The morning aarti occurs at approximately 6:30 AM, which brightens up the day. The tranquil evening aarti, which is carried out at about 7.00 PM, brings a lot of calm as lights are turned on and prayers are said to show appreciation and seek the desired favors. These aartis are attended by the visiting devotees and locals, creating a magical environment of melodic mantras. This sacred atmosphere engulfs the entire valley. It is said that taking part in these aartis is very beneficial as it helps one worship the goddess as well as nature.
Yamunotri is best visited from May to October as the temple remains open and the climate permits. In the months of May and June, the weather conditions are favorable, and it is the peak season for trekking and sightseeing. The monsoons that are experienced in the months of July and August are accompanied by heavy showers that can bring about landslides and muddy paths; hence, they are to be avoided. In the months of September and October, the better part of the days are filled with bright skies and a cool climate with a great opportunity to appreciate the greenery all around. In the month of November, the temple is closed for winter, and the whole area is under snow until the month of May the next year, hence it is not accessible.
To reach the Yamunotri shrine, a combination of road travel and trekking is required. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, located around 210 km, and the nearest station is approximately 200 km from Yamunotri in Rishikesh. A taxi or bus can be boarded in Dehradun or Rishikesh to Hanuman Chatti, which marks the commencement of the trek. From Hanuman Chatti, the pilgrims take a 14-kilometer trek up to the temple through beautiful landscapes. For the lazy lot, horses, palanquins, and even helicopters can be hired; hence, this journey is ideal for all classes of people.
The area surrounding Yamunotri has accommodation facilities that meet all the types of pilgrims, from simple dormitories to inexpensive hotels, primarily found in Janki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, and Barkot. Janki Chatti, which is located 6 km before Yamunotri, offers reasonably priced facilities in the form of a few hotels and lodges as well as dharamshalas. A little distance ahead, Hanuman Chatti also has their own cheap guesthouses and lodges, which have a quiet environment and basic services like hot water and vegetarian food. Barkot, located nearly 50 km from Janki Chatti, has better constructed facilities, including middle-range and even high-class-level facilities. Many places provide a warm atmosphere, where they are most welcome after a long trek, and such facilities are aimed at the pilgrims. The lodges and the ashrams offer food to their customers, which helps them to connect with the divinity of the place and is thus a perfect option for the visitors.
In order to participate in the Yamunotri pilgrimage tour, pilgrims have to do the Char Dham Yatra registration process online or offline. Online registration is available on the official Uttarakhand Tourism website or its mobile application, which requires the visitors to submit their IDs and other personal information. In case anyone wants to register themselves in offline mode, there are many counters located at important places like Rishikesh, Haridwar, and even on the path of pilgrimage. The brief information about the pilgrim or tourist is required to ensure maximum safety of all the pilgrims. After registration, there is a Yatra pass issued to the pilgrims, which is to be exhibited at the designated places on the way to the temple.
The Yamunotri Dham Yatra commences with the travel by road from Dehradun, Haridwar, or Rishikesh, which is often dotted with beautiful mountain towns and green hills. Generally, travelers travel up to Hanuman Chatti, the last point of the motorable road, before the trek to Yamunotri starts. And the 14-km trek to Yamunotri going through Janki Chatti with hot springs is a bit steep. The traditional climbing route has horses and palanquins for rent as it winds its way through forests, waterfalls, and alongside the banks of the Yamuna River. There is the sound of rushing water and clear blue skies with mountains beyond, and that brings tranquility to the heart.
At Yamunotri Dham, there are many special pujas devoted to Goddess Yamuna, which devotees can participate in. The day begins with morning aarti, where flowers, incense sticks, and chants are offered to the goddess to seek her blessings. There is also an opportunity for the pilgrims to book personal puja, which is also known as Sankalpa puja, in which they can make personal commitments concerning their welfare and spiritual advancement. One of the best factors experienced by many is the enjoyment of the Surya Kund and Gouri kund, which are known for their purifying aspect. These practices, along with the quiet surroundings, create a good ambience that enhances the visitors' explorations of the sacred Himalayas.
For a faster and easier pilgrimage, private helicopter services to Yamunotri may be obtained from Dehradun and Haridwar. The passengers are taken by the charter helicopter and within no time reach Kharsali, which is a base point only 6 km trek to Yamunotri. From Kharsali, pilgrims can proceed to the temple either on foot or by horses or palanquins. Helipad packages usually contain VIP darshan, which is very useful for old members, groups traveling with children, and those who have no time to waste. This offers a very scenic view of the mountains and saves a lot of time of the travel as it enables the pilgrims to go on Yamunotri Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand within a day’s time without losing out on the spiritual experience of the journey.
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