About Yamunotri Dham
- Yamunotri Dham of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand is the first temple in a series of Char-Dham tours in which Hindu pilgrims from around the world come to the darshan and receive the blessing of Yamuna Mata in Yamunotri .
- It is located at an altitude of 3,293 meters at the foot of Kalind Parvat hill in the Garhwal Himalayas, about 30 kilometers from Uttarkashi in the state of Uttarakhand.
- The temple is at the height of 358.4 meters from the sea level on the banks of the river Mandakini.
- Yamunotri Dham, dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, is the home of the most beautiful river the Yamuna in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand.
- According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Yamunotri is the sister of Lord Yamraj (King of Death), daughter of Surya (Sun), and one of the eight consorts of Lord Krishna.
- The source of the Yamuna river is Yamunotri, and it is also the home of Yamuna. Like other sacred sites, it is also known as the glacier of the flowing waters of Yamuna.
- Every year, from April to November, numerous pilgrims visit this temple to make darshans with Mother Yamuna, the presiding deity of the river Yamuna.
Story of Yamunotri Dham
- The temple of Yamunotri Dham is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna who is believed to be the mother of humanity and provides abundant food for her. The temple idol of Yamuna is carved in black stone and is worshipped here. It is a temple dedicated to the Yamuna River depicted in the form of a silver idol decorated with garlands and rebuilt by Maharaja Pratap Shah Tehri Garhwal.
Yamunotri Temple History
- In 1839, Tehri Naresh, King Sudarshan Shah, built the Yamunotri temple in honor of the god Yamuna. But after a major earthquake, most of the temple was damaged. And then rebuilt by the Maharani of Jaipur Gulariya Devi in the 19th century AD.
Yamunotri Dham Yatra
- Yamunotri Temple can be reached by taking a day trip from the three major cities of Uttarakhand; Rishikesh, Dehradun and Haridwar The temple can only be reached after a 13 km journey from the holy city of Hanuman Chatti.
- So the best times to visit Yamunotri Dham are the months of May, June, September and October. In these times the climate remains pleasant and the pilgrims have less to worry about their pilgrimage to the temple.
Why Visit Yamunotri Temple
- Yamunotri Dham is one of the Sanatana Dharma sacred places in Uttarakhand. The others are Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Together with Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri, it forms the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage, which is sacred to Hindus. Pilgrims visit the Yamunotri Temple for the blessings of the Goddess Yamuna, Yama, Surya, Dev, and the Goddess Sanghy.
- It is believed that the springs around the shrine of Yamunotri have supernatural powers, and pilgrims carry raw potatoes and rice which they dip into the hot springs, seeing it as Prasad, and Yamunotri takes it. In Surya Kund near the temple and at the shrines of Prasad and Devi, worshippers cook rice and potatoes for prayer. The pilgrims prepare the rice or potatoes offered in the temple and immerse them in the hot water of the spring, which gushes out of the cave bound with muslin cloths.
- The Yamunotri Mandir attracts thousands of worshippers from all over the world from May to October. Like Gangotri Temple, Yamunotri is also opened on Akshaya Tritiya every year, the most prosperous day in the Hindu calendar.
How to Reach Yamunotri Temple
By Air
If you are going by air then you have to fly to Jolly Grant Airport which is 210 km. From there you have to hire a taxi for Hanuman Chatti. And from Hanuman Chatti, the temple is 13 km. far.
By Train
If you are going by train, you have to go to Rishikesh or Dehradun Railway Station. From Rishikesh, the shrine is 200 km. far and from Dehradun it is 175 km. After reaching the station you can easily go by bus or taxi.
By Road
If you are going Yamunotri Dham by road then you have to arrive at Hanuman Chatti. From Hanuman Chatti, you can easily reach the mandir by bus or taxi.