Yamunotri is the source shrine of the Yamuna, and the first stop on the Chota Char Dham circuit that also takes in Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It lies at roughly 3,200–3,300 m in the western Garhwal Himalaya, in Uttarkashi district, under the Bandarpunch massif. The shrine is small, a black marble image of the goddess Yamuna in a modest temple, and the effort of reaching it is a large part of the point.
There is no road to the temple. Vehicles stop at Janki Chatti, and from there the path is about 6 km on foot, with ponies, palkis and dolis available for those who prefer to ride. Beside the shrine, hot springs such as Surya Kund are used to cook rice and potatoes tied in muslin, which pilgrims offer as prasad. The Divya Shila rock nearby is worshipped before the goddess herself.
The season is fixed by the temple calendar. The shrine opens on Akshaya Tritiya, in April or May, and closes around Yama Dwitiya, two days after Diwali. In winter the goddess's image is carried down to Kharsali, a village near Janki Chatti, where her priests live and where an old Shani Dev temple serves as her winter seat. Opening dates change each year, so check before you book.
For older travellers, Yamunotri is feasible but should be planned rather than rushed. Break the long drive from Dehradun with a night at Barkot, sleep at Janki Chatti before the climb, start at first light, and treat a pony or palki as a sensible choice, not a failure. Skip the monsoon entirely: July and August bring landslides and slippery trails.
Before you plan
Yamunotri at a glance
- Best months
- May and JuneMay and June, then late September and October. The shrine is open only from Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) to about two days after Diwali; July and August bring monsoon landslides.
- Ideal trip length
- 2–3 days from Barkot or Janki Chatti2–3 days from Barkot or Janki Chatti; allow an extra day each way for the road from Dehradun or Rishikesh
- Airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, DehradunJolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED), roughly 200 km by road; the drive to Janki Chatti takes most of a day
- Railway station
- DehradunDehradun (DDN), Rishikesh (RKSH) and Haridwar (HW) are the usual railheads; no train reaches the Yamuna valley
- Getting around
- Taxis and buses run to Janki ChattiTaxis and buses run to Janki Chatti, the last motorable point; from there the shrine is a 6 km walk, or a pony, palki or doli ride
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person per day excluding the road journey, for basic lodging, vegetarian meals and local transport; prices rise in May and June
- Senior comfort
- Demanding: the shrine is at about…Demanding: the shrine is at about 3,200 m and reached by a 6 km climb, though a pony or palki makes it possible with planning and a first night at lower altitude
- Language
- Hindi and Garhwali locallyHindi and Garhwali locally; English is understood in some lodges but less widely than in larger pilgrimage towns
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Yamunotri: May, June. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Yamunotri itinerary
One good day
1 day in Yamunotri
This works only if you sleep at Janki Chatti or Barkot the night before. Start the 6 km walk at first light, taking a pony or palki if needed. Spend about an hour at the shrine, the Surya Kund hot spring and the Divya Shila rock, then start down by early afternoon. Have a simple meal at Janki Chatti and, if you have energy, cross to Kharsali to see the village. Drive back to Barkot or onward only if the road and weather allow.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Yamunotri
Drive from Barkot to Janki Chatti in the morning, leaving time for road delays. Settle into a lodge or the GMVN rest house, rest at altitude, and take a short walk beside the river. If the hot springs here are open for bathing, use them in the evening.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Yamunotri
Take the road from Dehradun or Mussoorie to Barkot and stay overnight. The lower altitude is a gentle start, and the town has shops and chemists if you need supplies.
Day-by-day plan →
