Yamunotri Dham

Yamunotri Dham, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, is one of the four sacred shrines of the Char Dham Yatra in the Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, the temple stands gracefully at an altitude of about 3,293 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, surrounded by snow-clad peaks and breathtaking natural beauty.

The temple was originally built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. The sacred Yamuna River, which originates from the Yamunotri glacier (Champasar Glacier), flows near the temple and is considered the lifeline of northern India. Pilgrims believe that taking a dip in the holy waters of Yamuna washes away sins and protects from untimely death.

A unique feature of Yamunotri is the presence of hot water springs, the most famous being Surya Kund, where devotees cook rice and potatoes tied in a muslin cloth, offering them as prasad to the goddess.

Yamunotri Dham opens every year on Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) and closes on Bhai Dooj (October/November) due to heavy snowfall in winter. As the first stop of the Char Dham Yatra, Yamunotri holds immense spiritual significance, combining devotion, natural beauty, and divine blessings.