Yamunotri
यमुनोत्री
“Source of the Yamuna river.”
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Introduction
amunotri, also Jamnotri, is the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna in Hinduism. It is situated at an altitude of 3,293 metres (10,804 ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas and located approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) North of Uttarkashi, the headquarters of the Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the four sites in India's Chota Char Dham pilgrimage. The sacred shrine of Yamunotri, source of the river Yamuna, is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched atop a flank of the Bandarpunch mountain. The chief attraction at Yamunotri is the temple devoted to the Goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs at Janki Chatti which is 7 km away. The actual source, a frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar Glacier) located on the Kalind Mountain at a height of 4,421 m 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.
Legends & lore
According to Hindu legend, Sage Asita had his hermitage here. All his life, he bathed daily both in the Ganges and the Yamuna. Unable to go to the Gangotri during his old age, a stream of the Ganges appeared opposite Yamunotri for him. Sangya is the birthplace of the Yamuna in the Champasar Glacier (4,421 m) just below the Banderpoonch Mountain. The mountain adjacent to the river source is dedicated to her father, and is called Kalinda Parvata (Kalinda is an epithet of the sun god Surya).
About the deity — Yamuna
The Yamuna is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about 4,500 m (14,800 ft) on the southwestern slopes of Bandarpunch peaks of the Lower Himalaya in Uttarakhand. It then enters Himachal Pradesh before following in to the Indo-Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. It travels 1,376 kilometres (855 mi) and drains an area drainage system of 366,223 square kilometres (141,399 mi2), 40.2% of the entire Ganges Basin. It merges with the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj, which is a site of the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival held every 12 years.
Read more about [Yamuna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna).
How to reach
Located in: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.
Photography & gallery
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Festivals celebrated here
त्योहार
No festivals linked here yet.
When our editors confirm the festivals that gather pilgrims at this shrine, they will appear in this folio with their next dates.
Photography & gallery
गैलरी
News & updates
समाचार
We are watching for news about this shrine.
As soon as our editors find a piece worth reading — a renovation, a festival report, a court ruling, a historic recovery — it lands here, with full attribution.
Plan your visit
यात्रा योजना
Before you go
Seasonal — open late April to mid-November only
Yamunotri Dham is open only about six months a year. For 2026 the kapat opened on 19 April (Akshaya Tritiya); the tentative closing is around Diwali in mid-November. During winter the goddess Yamuna's idol is moved to Kharsali village near Janki Chatti, where worship continues.
Mandatory registration & 2026 health check-up
All Yamunotri/Char Dham yatris must register (free) at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in before travelling; entry is blocked at checkpoints without a valid slip. For 2026 a medical check-up before the trek is advised/required, especially for those above 55 or with pre-existing heart or breathing conditions.
6 km uphill trek from Janki Chatti — ropeway not yet operational
Yamunotri is reached by a roughly 6 km uphill trek from the Janki Chatti road-head (~3,293 m altitude); pony, palki (doli) and porter services are available. The proposed Yamunotri ropeway (₹1,200 cr, ~3.3 km) is still under construction and is NOT operational for the 2026 season, so plan to trek or hire a pony/palki.
Sources & attribution
Services & Support · सेवा
Soon, you can do more than read about Yamunotri.
We’re building the infrastructure for verified pujas, transparent donations, and trust-rated local help around every shrine. Tell us where you want us first.
पूजा बुकिंग
Book a Puja
Connect with verified pujaris at Yamunotri. Choose a puja, a date, and the offering — we handle the rest. Each pujari is KYC-checked and rated by the temple committee.
दान
Donate
Support Yamunotri’s maintenance, annadana programs, and community work. Every paisa receipted, every disbursement public.
स्थानीय सेवा
Hire Local
Trust-verified local services around Yamunotri — pujaris, drivers, cooks, tutors, plumbers — recommended by the temple’s community.