Yamunotri Temple, Uttarkashi – The Temple

Yamunotri Temple, Uttarkashi – The Temple

The sacred shrine of Yamunotri, source of the river Yamuna, is the western most shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched atop a flank of Bandar Poonch Parvat. It is situated near the foot of Kalind Parbat (peak) and on a side of Bandar Poonch Parbat. The chief attraction at Yamunotri is the temple devoted to the Goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs at Janki Chatti (7 Kms away). The deity is made of black marble.

The Yamuna, like the Ganges, has been elevated to the status of a divine mother for the Hindus and has been held responsible for nurturing and developing the Indian civilization. The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya (May) and closes on Yama Dwitiya (the second day after Diwali, November) for the winter. Devi's winter address is Kharsali village where she reaches in a palanquin and will remain for the entire period of winters.

The temple staff return to their villages and for the rest of the time the valley is gripped in no-man silence and covered with a white sheet of snow. With the melting of the snow next summer, the temple re-opens. The actual source, a frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar Glacier) located on the Kalind Mountain at a height of 4,421 meters (14,505 ft) above sea level, about 1 Km further up, is not frequented generally as it is not accessible; hence the shrine has been located on the foot of the hill. The approach is extremely difficult, and pilgrims therefore offer puja at the temple itself.

Lodging at the temple itself is limited to a few small ashrams and guest-houses. Ritual duties such as the making and distribution of prasad (sanctified offerings) and the supervision of pujas (ritual venerations) are performed by the Uniyal family of pujaris (priests). Unique aspects of ritual practice at the site include hot springs where raw rice is cooked and made into prasad.

Hot Springs:

Two hot springs, Surya Kund and Gauri Kund, are found near Yamunotri Temple. These Hot Springs offers relief to tired devotees / hikers at a height of 3,292 metres (10,801 ft), 

Surya Kund:

Surya Kund is a hot spring, situated close to Yamunotri Temple. It holds the boiling-hot water as it emerges from the crevices in the mountain. This thermal spring gets its name from Yamuna river which is considered to be the offspring of Surya or the God as per Hindu mythology. The presence of this thermal spring bordered by snow-covered mountain peaks adds to the divine significance of the place.

The temperature of Surya Kund is estimated to be around 88°C. Pilgrims prepares Prasad out of potatoes or rice mixed with salt and ties it in a cloth. Then it is dipped into the hot spring where it gets boiled. This Prasad is offered to the temple deity after which the remaining is taken back home by the devotees.

Gauri Kund:

Gauri Kund is a hot spring, situated close to Yamunotri Temple. This Hot Spring is suitable for bathing.

Divya Shila:

It is a reddish-brown rock near the Surya Kund which needs to be worshipped before offering reverence to the main deity, Mother Yamuna. According to Skanda Purana, with a mere touch of the sacred rock one can attain spiritual liberation.

Janki Chatti:

Janki Chatti is a small town located on the way to Yamunotri Temple in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Janki Chatti is perched at an elevation of about 2650 m above the sea level and is famous for its many hot water springs. Taking a dip in the hot water from these springs is considered very sacred, before visiting the Yamunotri. This area encompasses the last village in the region and the pilgrims are provided with moderate accommodation facilities here.

The town is surrounded by mountains offering scenic views. It is very famous among tourists who travel to the region of Yamunotri during Char Dham Yatra and most pilgrims take a night halt. Previously the starting point of the trek to reach Yamunotri was Hanuman Chatti but now jeeps are available up to Janki Chatti. Ponies and palanquins are available at Janki Chatti.

Hanuman Chatti:

Hanuman Chatti is located at the confluence of the Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Hanuman Chatti is situated at about 2,400 meters above mean sea level. It is a serene place offering ample amount of accommodation facilities. Hanuman Chatti is also a popular trekking spot among the travelers. There are many minor temples in the region, the most noteworthy temple is the one dedicated to Hanuman. Within the interiors of the temple there is an impressive image of Lord Hanuman carrying a mountain.

To the left of the temple there is a Samadhi of Himalaya Giri, a saint who lived and meditated in Hanuman Chatti. On top of the shrine there is a Shiva Linga. In earlier times, Hanuman Chatti used to be the starting point of the trek to reach Yamunotri but now motorable roads are available up to Janki Chatti. The hike from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri is very popular among the travelers. Apart from Yamunotri, the best trekking excursion of Hanuman Chatti is towards Darwa Top and Dodi Tal.