Yamunotri Temple
Goddess Yamuna temple · Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India
Yamunotri Temple, in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is the shrine of the goddess Yamuna near the source of the Yamuna river in the western Garhwal Himalayas. It is one of the four shrines of the Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand.
The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and the Uttarakhand pilgrimage registration portal give its altitude as about 3,293 metres. The temple is reached on foot from Janki Chatti, the last motorable point, and it is open only in the warmer months; in winter the goddess is carried down to Kharsali village, where she is worshipped until the shrine reopens.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Yamunotri Temple
The Uttarakhand pilgrimage portal notes that the Yamuna is regarded as the sister of Yama, the god of death, and that devotees believe bathing in her waters brings protection from untimely death and helps towards liberation. The temple's seasonal closing falls on Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya), the festival of brothers and sisters, according to All India Radio and ETV Bharat.
Near the temple are hot springs, of which Surya Kund is the most important. According to the temple committee page and the state portal, pilgrims tie rice and potatoes in muslin cloth and cook them in the spring as an offering, taking the cooked rice home as prasad. Divya Shila, a rock pillar near Surya Kund, is worshipped before the goddess herself.
According to legend recorded by the temple committee, the sage Asit Muni had his hermitage at Yamunotri. The committee also notes that the river's actual source, a glacier-fed lake on Kalind mountain about a kilometre higher, is difficult to reach, which is why the shrine stands at the foot of the slope.
Heritage
History of Yamunotri Temple
Sources differ on who built the temple. The Uttarakhand pilgrimage portal and the Wikipedia article on the temple credit Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal, while the temple committee page and Wikipedia's article on Yamunotri also mention a 19th-century temple built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur, and Wikipedia gives 1839 under a ruler of Tehri. All agree the present temple dates from the 19th century. Wikipedia records that the temple has been damaged by snow and floods and rebuilt.
The priests of Yamunotri come from Kharsali village near Janki Chatti, according to the temple committee. Kharsali is also the goddess's winter seat. ETV Bharat reports that when the temple closes for winter, the festival palanquin of Maa Yamuna leaves for Kharsali (Khushimath), accompanied by the palanquin of Shani Dev, and stays there for about six months. The state portal notes an old Shani temple at Kharsali.
Architecture and sacred features
The temple committee and Wikipedia describe the deity as a black marble image of the goddess Yamuna, decorated with garlands. Published official sources do not give a detailed architectural description of the temple building.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Yamunotri is a high-altitude trek, and the temple committee advises that monsoon landslides can make access difficult. Char Dham pilgrims are asked to register on the Uttarakhand government's registration portal. The temple opens in spring and closes for winter after Diwali, with dates announced each year. Confirm the current opening period, registration rules and darshan arrangements with the Uttarakhand pilgrimage portal or the Yamunotri temple committee before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Yamunotri Temple
Opening of the shrine (Akshaya Tritiya)
Wikipedia records that the temple traditionally opens on Akshaya Tritiya, when the goddess's palanquin is brought up from Kharsali.
Closing for winter (Bhai Dooj / Yama Dwitiya)
The temple closes on Bhai Dooj, and the palanquins of Yamuna and Shani Dev go to Kharsali for the winter, according to All India Radio and ETV Bharat.
Location
How to Reach Yamunotri Temple
According to the temple committee and the state pilgrimage portal, the road ends at Janki Chatti, reached via Dehradun or Rishikesh and Barkot, and the temple is a trek of about 5 to 6 km beyond it; ponies, palanquins and dolis can be hired. The committee notes that Barkot, about 50 km away, has hotels, and that lodging at Yamunotri itself is very limited.
The committee lists Rishikesh as the railhead and Jolly Grant airport, near Dehradun, as the nearest airport.
Location: Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
More in Hindu temples in Uttarakhand · Goddess Yamuna temples · Temples in Rajgarhi Tehsil · Temples in Uttarkashi District
Questions
Yamunotri Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Which goddess is worshipped at Yamunotri Temple?
The temple is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, the personification of the Yamuna river, whose image here is of black marble.
Is Yamunotri one of the Char Dham?
Yes. Yamunotri is one of the four Char Dham shrines of Uttarakhand, along with Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
What is Surya Kund at Yamunotri?
Surya Kund is a hot spring next to the temple. Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes tied in muslin cloth in its water as an offering and take the rice home as prasad.
Where is Goddess Yamuna worshipped in winter?
At Kharsali village (Khushimath) near Janki Chatti. Her palanquin is taken there with Shani Dev's after the temple closes on Bhai Dooj, and she stays about six months.
How long is the trek to Yamunotri?
Official sources give about 5 to 6 km from Janki Chatti, the last motorable point. Ponies, palanquins and dolis are available.
Who built Yamunotri Temple?
Sources differ: the state pilgrimage portal credits Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal, while other sources name Maharani Gularia of Jaipur. The present temple dates from the 19th century.
Why does Yamunotri close on Bhai Dooj?
Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) honours brothers and sisters, and Yamuna is regarded as the sister of Yama. The temple traditionally closes for winter on this day.
Sources and attribution
- Shri Badrinath-Shri Kedarnath Temple Committee — Yamunotri
- Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board – Registration and Tourist Care portal — Yamunotri Dham
- All India Radio News (newsonair.gov.in) — Shri Kedarnath and Shri Yamunotri temples close for winter on Bhaiya Dooj
- ETV Bharat — Yamunotri Dham doors closed for winter in Uttarakhand
- Wikipedia — Yamunotri Temple
- Wikipedia — Yamunotri
Further reading: Yamunotri Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Write to info@hindutone.com — see our editorial policy.
