Located on the western side of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand and 10,747 feet high, the Yamunotri temple is devoted to Goddess Yamuna (the River). The Yamunotri glacier, also known as Champasar Glacier, is the original site of the Yamuna which is regarded as the second most sacred river of India the temple is at the foothill of it, thus a very prominent pilgrim destination in Hinduism which totally reveres the goddess. It is believed by the devotees that by bathing in the holy waters of Yamuna one is cleansed of all his sins and evils. Sitting aside the beautiful gushing waters of Yamuna, the temple is a 13 km trek from Hanuman Chatti and a few of the waterfalls along the road; the site is an absolutely enjoyable venture for tourists.
The Yamunotri temple was constructed by King Naresh Sudarshan Singh in 1839 and the temple has two hot springs, namely Surya Kund and Gauri Kund. There are accommodations also available in the ashrams with several lodgings located around the temple. There are many daily processions of ‘Pujas’ performed by the Uniyal family of priests and the ‘Prasad’ offered at the temple is the rice cooked in the hot spring. You can take the flight from the nearest airport, in Dehradun, or a cab or taxi from Rishikesh or Haridwar, and from Janki Chatti, there begins an exhausting 6 km trek till you arrive at this enchanting shrine. You can save yourself from the problems of trekking by taking ponies or palanquins that are available for rent. One can endeavor into thrilling treks and sightseeing of charming hills and waterfalls. It is definitely an appealing adventure to take on for all the thriller junkies and also for the seekers of profound peace and bliss.
Yamunotri in Summer Season (March to June)
Regarded as the perfect season to pay a visit to this stimulating destination, the months from April when the temple opens after prolonged winters till July when the monsoon strikes, the mountain valleys blossom with shades of luscious green after the spring. The temperature is at an ideal range of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius with sunny weather throughout the whole day; however, the evenings and the nights are quite chilly. Tourists can savor the pleasures of exploring the beautiful valleys and the woods or enticingly bright hill trails for photography, trekking, mountain climbing, and much more. The clear skies and warm sunbeams blend together with blossoming nature to provide you a great holiday and a spiritual experience that you cherish for the rest of your life.
Yamunotri in Monsoon Season (July to September)
Just as the heavy rains start kicking in and the conditions start getting riskier, we observe a reduction in the number of tourists visiting the Yamunotri Dham. The frequent precipitation leads to a temperature drop to 12 to 15 degrees with high humidity in the atmosphere and loosened soils making it a landslide-prone area. Due to such dangerous circumstances, the temple becomes inaccessible and hence people usually don’t choose this season to plan a trip to Yamunotri Dham. This period lasts from late July till August, after which the weather starts clearing up and the site expects another major inflow of devotees and tourists.
Yamunotri in Winter Season (October to February)
October is complemented by clear, cold, and dry weather and again rendered as a good time to visit Yamunotri Dham. There are celebrations around Diwali also, but as the winter approaches and the temperature drifts down drastically to - 7 degrees and snowfall pour in to cover the area and the routes completely. The place freezes absolutely and the temple is closed down. Only trekkers and mountaineers are observed in the area until next year when the conditions alleviate and the rough winters have passed on. The temple reopens in April with a grand ceremony following the rituals and processions by the priests.
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