An Irreristible Paradise In India- Yamunotri Must Visit Places

The Yamunotri Dham Temple is one of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites, located 3293 meters above sea level in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand. Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri Dham are the other three holy sites. Travelling to the Char Dhams is essential for those seeking forgiveness for their sins. Yamunotri Dham is the gateway to the holy cities of Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath and the first stop on the journey to enlightenment. Hindus revered the Yamuna River as a holy waterway in India.

Even though the main shrine is in the breathtaking Garhwal Himalayas, the Pious Yamuna River’s origin is in Kalindi Mountain, which flows to the BanderPanch Range. This holy river begins near Yamunotri Glacier. Thousands of believers attend the Yamunotri Yatra each year so that they might take a holy bath in the river and therefore get heavenly protection and avoid an early death.

Yamuna, sister of Yamraj, the deity of death, is honoured at the Yamunotri Temple. Reaching the holy Yamunotri Temple is both a rewarding and challenging endeavour. The 3293-meter-high location in the Himalayas requires challenging travel for the devout. It is easy to forget the hardships of the Yamunotri Dham Yatra when you take in the breathtaking sights of verdant mountains, a frozen glacier, and soothing hot springs and lakes. The whole settlement may be found along the western slope of Bandarpunch Peak on the left side.

Yamunotri Dham: A Brief History

According to legend, sage Asti Muni lived in seclusion in the Yamunotri Dham. The sage was a devotee of the Ganges and the Yamuna, and he bathed in each river every day of his life. He had lost the strength to go to Gangotri by the time he reached old age, but his good works were rewarded when a tributary of the Ganges suddenly arose across from Yamunotri.

The Dham is made more valuable spiritually by this mythical narrative. In addition, the Yamunotri Temple, which is devoted to the Goddess Yamuna, is the primary reason people visit this Dham. The Yamuna is revered as a goddess of fortitude; legend has it. People believe that if they wash away their sins and clear their karmic debts in the Yamuna, they will be protected from the clutches of death. They say that because Yamuna is Surya’s daughter, worshipping her would also appease the Sun God.

If you plan a trip to Yamunotri, you should take advantage of these neighbouring cities and towns. Add any of these surrounding attractions to your Yamunotri trip to make it more memorable.

Surya Kund

Surya Kund is a natural hot water spring that can be found close to the sacred Yamunotri temple. It ranks among Yamunotri’s most famous sights. This year’s springtime averages over 1200 °C (1900 °F). Food cooked at this temperature is done within minutes. It is from this warm spring that the sacred prasad of the main shrine is prepared.

The river Yamuna inspired the name Surya Kund. Potatoes or rice combined with salt is wound in muslin fabric and presented as prasad. Following a quick boil in the temple’s spring, the meat is presented to the gods.

 Janki Chatti

Janki Chatti, located just 7 kilometres from Yamunotri, is well worth seeing. The natural hot springs here are what make the area so well-known. Many devotees start their journey to the Yamunotri shrine from here. Many worshippers spending the night en route to Yamunotri stay in this inn. Furthermore, Janki Chatti is well-known for cradling the pristine beauty of nature because of its location amid mountains on all sides.

The peaceful surroundings of this mountainous area along the Indo-China border are well worth capturing on film. From May to October, pilgrims flock here. The tranquil atmosphere will help you relax and recharge. Garhwali and Kumaoni dishes like Chainsoo, Aloo ke Ghutke, Gahat, etc., will satisfy your appetite. Indeed, it is among the finest Yamunotri area tourist spots.

Lakhamandal

Lakhamandal, around a hundred kilometres from Chakrata, is also a significant location in Indian mythology and history. According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Duryodhan attempted to murder the Pandavas by forcing them to remain in a palace called the “Laksha Grah,” or “home constructed of Wax.” This palace is said to be located near Lakhamandal.

In front of Lakhamandal’s main temple are two impressive sculptures. Some say they depict the heroes Arjun and Bheem, while others say they depict the villain Danav and his sidekick Manav or two doorkeepers. Under the Gupta dynasty, the temple’s inscriptions are from the 8th to 15th century.

Barkot

Barkot, at an elevation of 1,220 meters, is a popular area to visit due to its proximity to the holy site of Yamunotri. This beautiful scenery is nourished by the waters of the world’s holiest rivers: the Ganges and the Yamuna. Barkot’s attractiveness is difficult to resist. The regions of Dehradun and Chamoli are found in the northern hemisphere, whereas Tibet occupies the northwest.

It is a paradise for hikers and explorers because of its beautiful scenery and many hiking trails. Situated around 50 kilometres from Yamunotri, it is renowned for its excellent views of the Bandarpoonch mountain and other Himalayan peaks. Sacred Yamuna River waterfalls add to the area’s already tranquil scenery. Moreover, a popular old temple among travellers may be found among all these stunning natural features.

Dodital

North India is home to the mystical Dodital, a high-altitude lake where legend says Lord Ganesha was born. The fact that no one knows how deep the lake is contributes to its aura of mystery. This stunning natural wonder is perched at an altitude of around 3,310 meters above sea level and is surrounded by verdant forests of deodar, oak, and rhododendron.

The area around Yamunotri is perfect for trekkers. Dodital’s name is the most intriguing aspect of the company. Dodi, a rare species of Himalayan trout, lives in Lake Dodital, thus the lake’s name.

Saptarishi Kund

Saptarishi Kund is an extremely high-altitude lake that sits at 4421 meters. In the vicinity of Yamunotri is a popular hiking destination that locals and visitors believe is the Yamuna River’s source. Among the many challenging treks in Uttarakhand, the one to Saptrishi Kund is among the toughest. Even though there are no designated campsites or asphalt, the pathway is mainly coated with ice.

The Yamunotri Temple is the starting point for a 16-kilometre hike at Jankichatti.The Champasar glacier on the region’s highest peaks supplies water to Saptrishi Kund. The kund is held in high regard since it is said that seven great sages (Rishi Kashyap, Atri, Bharadwaj, Vasisthaand Jamadagni, Gautama, Viswamitra) did penance there.

Kharsali

Kharsali is one of the greatest spots to visit Yamunotri because of its proximity to Janki Chatti. It’s not only referred to as “Khushi Math” either. Thermal springs, spectacular waterfalls, and a magnificent meadow with oak and fir trees await you at this destination, 2675 meters above sea level.

Since the holy Yamunotri Dham is inaccessible to pilgrims during the winter, this location serves as Goddess Yamuna’s winter residence. For this reason, the Shani Dev Temple has accepted her idol for worship. Not only that but there is an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva that draws visitors.

This three-story temple has beautiful and intricate carvings in wood and stone. In addition, there is nothing more soul-satisfying than camping out with your pals beneath a star-studded sky while roasting marshmallows over a campfire.

This 24 km long trek will take you through forests, mountains, valleys and pulsating green meadows. Enjoy this adventurous trek leading to the famous Rudranath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. #Uttarakhand #Uttarakhandtourism #treks pic.twitter.com/ovAN6WxxQs

— Uttarakhand Tourism (@UTDBofficial) October 23, 2022

Hanuman Chatti

The Hanuman Chatti marks the beginning of the Yamunotri Trek and the beginning of the Dodital Trek, both of which begin only 13 kilometres from Yamunotri. The Ganges and the Yamuna River meet there.

Furthermore, this area is well-known as a stunning hiking destination. Everything that makes hiking such a delightful excursion can be found here, from the gorgeous hills to the fragrant meadows.

Dayara Bugyal

A Bugyal is a highland meadow, as defined by the locals of Uttarkashi. This description is missing an adjective, and Dayara Bugyal is just that: a magnificent high-altitude meadow. To have the whole Yamunotri experience, tourists must miss this place.

Dayara Bugyal, at an elevation of 30,486 feet, is a beautiful green carpet stretching 28 kilometres over the landscape. There is a little natural lake called Barnala Tal, which is the main attraction.

Yamunotri Temple

The Yamunotri Temple is a popular pilgrimage site because it is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Yamuna. Yamuna is the name of one of the holiest rivers in India. Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah built the first shrine in 1839. However, the temple was seriously destroyed by a massive earthquake.

Jaipur’s Maharani Gularia rededicated the shrine to her late husband towards the end of the 19th century. However, the shrine has also undergone many renovation stages following natural calamities.

The white icon of Goddess Ganga and the black idol of Goddess Yamuna spell out the work of master architects.Many people visit the Yamunotri Temple every year in search of its legendary or mythical significance or for spiritual reasons.

Shila Divya

In the vicinity of Yamunotri and Surya Kund stands the holy stone pillar, Divya Shila, also known as the slab of heavenly light. According to the local belief system, visitors must pay respects at Divya Shila before entering the main shrine.

This Shila, or rock pillar, is considered the deity’s idol and must be bowed to before any other offerings can be made during a puja at the Yamunotri temple.

Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi, one of the most visited pilgrimage tourist destinations close to Yamunotri Dham, is located at an altitude of 1,158 meters above sea level. “Kashi of the North” is another name for this place. Paradise may be found in the form of the winding, untamed rivers and ever-changing splendour of the Ganges River or Bhagirathi. The area is filled with beautiful and peaceful temples.

Temples like Lord Vishwanath Temple, devoted to Shiva, and the Shakti Temple, housing a 26-foot-tall Trishul, are not to be missed. Har Ki Doon, the most enchanting journey in the world, begins and ends in this region, so it’s no surprise that hikers find it appealing. Dodital lake and the northern part of Himachal Pradesh, India’s most stunning tourist destination, would leave you speechless.

How to Reach Yamunotri?

By Air:  

You can get to Yamunotri quickly and easily from anywhere in the world thanks to the proximity of the Jolly Grant Airport. It’s just 220 kilometres from the Dham. It is easy for tourists to book flights to and from the airport from the nation’s capital and the country’s largest metropolis, Mumbai. Taxis are readily available at Jolly Grant Airport for those who want to get to Hanuman Chatti.

By Rail:

Rishikesh and Dehradun, two of India’s major train hubs, are both convenient train rides away from Yamunotri. The Rishikesh and the Dehradun train stations are located on National Highway 58, with Rishikesh being 200 kilometres from Yamunotri and Dehradun being 175 kilometres from the Dham.

The railway networks in India link both stations well. Taking a train to Rishikesh or Dehradun is thus a practical option for tourists. After arriving at the Rishikesh train station, tourists can take a bus or a cab to their next destination.

By Road:

In addition, the journey to Yamunotri starts at Hanuman Chatti rather than on a motorable road. On the other hand, Hanuman Chatti has excellent road connections to Uttarakhand’s other essential tourist centres. Hanuman Chatti is readily accessible by bus from Rishikesh.

Yamunotri Dham will officially welcome visitors on the festive day of Akshay Tritiya, May 3, 2022. Yamunotri Pilgrimage Tours are best taken between May and June or September and October. If the weather gets too bad, worshippers won’t be able to visit the shrine. Goddess Yamuna spends the winters at the ancient Shani Dev Temple in Kharsali.

By going to Yamunotri Char Dham, you can be healed by the divine ways God shows himself. Since the shrines in Yamunotri Dham are closed for the winter due to heavy snowfall, now is the perfect time to pilgrimage.

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