Table of Contents
Yamunotri Temple :
In the western Garhwal Himalayas at a height of 3,235 meters (10,614 feet), Yamunotri Temple is situated close to the river’s source. The temple was built in 1839 by Sundarshan Shah, the king of Tehri, an important cultural center. The place once housed a small shrine before the temple was constructed. A short distance from the shrine is the Surya Kund and Divya Shila.
Yamunotri History and Legends :
It is rumored that the Sage Asit Muni once established his hermitage here. Throughout his entire life, he often bathed in the Yamuna and Gangas rivers. He couldn’t get to Gangotri because of his advanced age, but a Ganges stream emerged for him across from Yamunotri.
In the Champasar Glacier (4,421 m), close below Banderpoonch Mountain, Sangya is where the Yamuna was born. In memory of her father, the mountain near the river’s source was given the name Kalind Parvat; Kalind is another name for Surya, the solar deity. Yamuna is renowned for her frivolity, a quality that she acquired since, according to a popular myth, Yamuna’s mother was unable to meet her brilliant husband’s eyes.
Yamunotri River :
The actual source of the Yamuna River lies in the Yamunotri Glacier, at a height of 6,387 meters (20,955 ft), near the Bandarpunch peaks in the Lower Himalayas and is dedicated to goddess Yamuna. Before joining the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj, it flows through the states of Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and later Delhi.
In Hinduism, Yamunotri, often spelled Jamnotri, is the location of the Goddess Yamuna’s abode and the source of the Yamuna River. It is situated 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Uttarkashi, the administrative center of the Uttarkashi district in the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India, at an elevation of 3,293 meters (10,804 feet), in the Garhwal Himalayas. One of the four locations seen during the Indian pilgrimage is known as the Chhota Char Dham. The westernmost temple in the Garhwal Himalayas is perched on Bandar Poonch Parvat, not far from Yamunotri, the place where the Yamuna River originates. The Yamuna shrine and the holy hot springs of Janki Chatti, located 7 kilometers distant, are Yamunotri’s main draws.
The shrine was constructed at the foot of the hill since the genuine source is a 4,421 m-high frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar Glacier) on Kalind Mountain. Worshippers conduct puja within the temple due to the dangerous approach.
Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal built the Yamuna temple on the river’s left bank. The god is crafted from black marble. Similar to how the Ganges have been given holy mother status by Hindus, the Yamuna is credited with fostering and advancing Indian culture.
The shrine is close to some hot springs. The most significant kund is Surya Kund. Before puja is done to the god, Divya Shila, a shila located close to Surya Kund, is worshipped. The rice and potatoes are then prepared by being immersed in these hot springs, before being tied in muslin and offered to the temple. As Prasad, the cooked rice is brought home. The Yamunotri pujaris are from the village of Kharsali, which is close to Janki Chatti. They carry out religious procedures and are the stewards of the holy site. They are knowledgeable about the Shastras.
Places to visit in and around Gangotri (Tourist Attractions)
Every type of traveler can find a venue to interest them in and around Gangotri Dham. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there is Uttarkashi, which also has the Vishwa Nath Temple, Gaumukh Glacier, Nand Van Tapovan, Kedar Ganga Sangam, Bhairon Ghati, Gnag Nani, Maneri, Harsil, and Kedartal.
How to Reach Gangotri from Delhi NCR*
- New Delhi to Gangotri Driving Directions
- Total Km from Delhi: 474 km (Via Haridwar)
- Avg Time of Driving: 11 hours