Best time to visit : April to November
The source of River Yamuna – Yamunotri is an ideal tourist and pilgrimage destination of Uttaranchal in North India. One of the Char Dhams and the sacred abode of the Asit muni, Yamunotri stands out as one of the most revered places for Hindus. Enveloped amidst the Garhwal Himalayas, the city stands at a high altitude of 3,293 m. Yamunotri is visited by hordes of tourists to catch a glimpse of its unsurpassed natural beauty, glaciers, thermal springs, temples and kunds. Yamunotri lies adjacently to Indo-Chinese border and offers some magnificent trekking opportunities amidst hovering, crude peaks and dense forested lands. The pictorial wealth of the region is made up of vibrant wild shrubs, fresh green meadows, turquoise lakes, voluminous waterfalls and plethora of wildlife.
Facts
According to Hindu mythology, Yamuna (sister of Yama, the God of Death) took a holy dip in this river and secured the fact that one holy dip here will ensure a painless death to the devotee. Located in the Uttarkashi District, within the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, Yamunotri is set in the picturesque western part of the Garhwal Himalayas, on the top of Bandar Poonch Parvat. It is located about 42 km. north of Uttarkashi town. The origin point of River Yamuna is the Champasar Glacier, which is situated below Banderpoonch Mountain at a height of 4,421 m. above sea level. It is even further up at about 1 km. from the revered shrine of Yamunotri and is not easily reachable. Yamunotri is accessible only for about six months every year. Read more of this travel guide to learn the important tourist information of Yamunotri.
Yamunotri has restaurants serving vegetarian food; rather most of the eateries offer satvik food, i.e devoid of any onion or garlic. You can get delicious food here at really cheap rates. Do not miss the roadside dhabas serving really good north Indian delicacies.
Tourists visiting Yamunotri invariably buy some holy texts, idols of Gods and Goddesses, photographs of the temples and the deity. Mind that tourists cannot carry camera or take original pictures of the temple or deity as photography is strictly prohibited within the sanctorum. There are rarely any shops that sell fancy or luxury goods, but you get all necessary items in the main market.
Nearby Places:
This tourist guide will inform about some worth visiting places near Yamunotri that can be easily visited once sightseeing in Yamunotri is done:
- Rishikesh (about 211 km.): The popular destination lies in the foothills of Himalayas and is conferred with immense natural beauty. Today it is known as the Yoga Capital of the World and is also famous for white water rafting and trekking.
- Dehradun (about 168 km.): This is the gateway to India’s popular hill station Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar. There are some notable schools in Dehradun and it is the host to numerous tourist attractions.
Uttaranchal has many more tourist places that can be easily visited from Yamunotri. These include Gangotri, Kedarnath, Auli, Chamba, Almora, Mori, Ranikhet, Kasauli, Shimla and Nainital among others.