Yamunotri Dham is located in Uttarkashi of Uttarakhand which is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna at the height of 3293 meters above sea-level. Yamuna River originates from Yamunotri Dham, which is considered one of the most sacred rivers of Hindus. Every year, during the Char Dham Yatra season thousands of religious pilgrims from across the world visit Yamunotri Temple as a part of their four Dham Yatra, with a hope to wash-off all their sins.
If you want to visit Yamunotri Dham in 2026 then you are at the right place. We will give you complete information about Yamunotri Dham to plan a safe trip to this sacred pilgrimage site.
Yamunotri Dham- What You Need to Know
| Yamunotri Dham | Details |
| Location | Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand |
| Elevation | 3293 m |
| Nearest Airport | Jolly Grant Airport ( Dehradun) |
| Nearest Railway | Rishikesh Railway Station |
| Yamunotri Temple Opening Date 2026 | April 19th 2026 |
| Yamunotri Temple Helicopter Booking | IRCTC Heliyatra – https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in/ |
| Yamunotri Temple Hotel Booking | https://www.chardhamhotel.in/yamunotri-hotels.html |
| Yamunotri/ Chardham Tour Package Booking | https://www.chardhamhotel.in/chardham-yatra-packages.html |
| Yamunotri Dham Trek Route | Janki Chatti- Phool Chatti- hanuman Chatti-Kharsali Village- Yamunotri |
| Best Time to visit | May to June, September to October |
| Entry Fees | Free Entry |
Yamunotri Dham Opening Time
During the festival of Akshaya Tritiya, the temple is open to the public (i.e. during the month of April or May). You can also plan your visit after Monsoon in the months of September to October. During this the weather is pleasant for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The temple of Yamunotri is closed during winters from November to April (6 months) due to heavy snowfall. The temple is closed after conducting the rituals of the famous Hindu festival, Diwali. During the winters the temple is closed as it gets covered with snow which makes worshipping impossible for the public.
Winter Seat of Yamunotri Dham
The idol of Goddess Yamuna is shifted to a village known as Kharsali, where she is placed during the winters when the temple is closed. This village is considered to be the Mothers’ Home of Goddess Yamuna where she is worshipped during winters when the temple is closed to the public.
Kapat Opening Ceremony of Yamunotri Dham
The Kapat opening ceremony of Yamunotri Dham is one of the most awaited spectacles for pilgrims. It is also highly auspicious to witness the Kapat opening ceremony. The Kapat of Yamunotri Dham opens during Mangala Aarti for the devotees in the early hours. The priests chant Vedic mantras with full devotion and install the sacred idol of goddess Yamunotri in the sanctum sanctorum. Pilgrims also take a religious dip in Janki Kund near the temple to purify themselves and receive the sacred prasad at Yamunotri. This event marks the starting of Chardham Pilgrimage season.
Kapat Closing Ceremony of Yamunotri Dham
The Kapat closing ceremony of the sacred Yamunotri Temple occurs in the auspicious festival of Bhai Dooj, which falls a day or two after Diwali, the festival of lights. This event marks the end of Chardham pilgrimage season for the devotees. Priests chant Vedic mantras and honor goddess Yamuna before closing the sacred portals. The ceremony is also known as Kapat Band. The temple closes for six months in winter due to heavy snowfall.
Yamunotri Temple Aarti Timings
| Yamunotri Temple Timings | Details |
| Opening Time | 6:00 AM (5:30 AM Sundays) |
| Mangal Aarti | 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM |
| Shayan Aarti | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Closing Time | 8:00 PM (8:30 PM Sundays) |
History of Yamunotri Dham
Yamunotri Temple is the most important holy shrine for Hindus which is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The temple has a black marble idol of goddess Yamuna inside it that holds the status of omnipresent Mother to Human race. Yamuna is one of the major holy rivers after Ganga and it is the part of the trio holy river of India, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Tehri Naresh King Sudarshan Shah actually constructed the Yamunotri Temple in the year 1839 to honor Goddess Yamuna. Later, the temple was completely destroyed by a severe earthquake. In the 19th century, Maharani Gularia of Jaipur decided to reconstruct the temple and renovate it again. This is how the new Yamunotri temple came into existence in the 19th century.
Interesting Stories about Yamunotri Temple
According to Hindu mythology, life on earth keeps on going with the aid and rich nourishment offered by blessings and grace of Goddess Yamuna. There are several legends that are linked with this holy Yamunotri temple.
Religious Beliefs
The religious legends affirm that goddess Yamuna is the daughter of Sun God and Sangya, the goddess of Consciousness and the sister of death god, Yama. So, many pilgrims and legends believe that by offering prayer at Yamunotri Temple, they will not only wash off their sins, but will also get blessings from Sun God, God of Consciousness and Death God. By taking holy dip into the River Yamuna pilgrims believe that they will get rid from the fear of morality or death.
Sage’s Devotion
Asit Muni an ancient sage believed to live his entire life in this region of Yamunotri. Every day he used to take his bath in the River Yamuna and Ganga. When he grew older, he was unable to go to River Ganga to take his bath as it is far away. Pleased by his devotion goddess Ganga appeared near Yamunotri river in the form of a stream so he could continue his bathing ritual without any hassle.
Trekking Route for Yamunotri Dham
If you are visiting Yamunotri Dham in 2026 then you must know about the trekking route in case you are not doing this yatra by helicopter.
Let’s learn about the Yamunotri trekking route.
- Janki Chatti is the base point of Yamunotri trek. It is a 6 km trek which you will be able to cover in 4-5 hours by foot if your physical fitness and pace is decent. If you are very fast in walking then you can cover this trek within 3 hours.
- The 6-kilometre trail to Yamunotri Trek is a portal to awe-inspiring natural views. You will pass through forests, mountain streams, and witness Himalayan slopes.
- The trek goes through Phool Chatti and Hanuman Chatti. After reaching Hanuman Chatti, you will have to choose paths as there are paths from Hanuman Chatti: one is via Markandeya Tirth, and the other is via Kharsali village.
- The final journey via Hanuman Chatti is a 05 km steep ascent which will lead you to the divine Yamunotri Dham.
Accommodation and Food
There are many hotels for stay in Yamunotri which are private and government property. Garwhal Mandi Vikas Nigam has opened up Tourist rest houses for pilgrims at Hanuman Chatti, Janki Chatti and even at Yamunotri and those come with quite good facilities plus nominal rates. Many Dharamshalas and Ashrams are also there where you stay at quite low rates. Many of the tourist houses come with self-cooking facilities. If you eat out at the roadside Dhabhas too, you can only eat pure vegetarian food. Local Garhwali cuisine might be sampled but strictly vegetarian. Also, alcoholic drinks are not allowed because this is a much-revered pilgrim spot where you can bask in the glory of divinity uplifting your soul, your spirits and your mind!
Reaching There
Here’s a general guide on how to reach Yamunotri Dham:
- By Air: Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport to Yamunotri situated at a distance of 210 Kilometers. The airport is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. Hanuman chatty is directly connected by motor-able roads with Jolly Grant Airport, and one can get taxis from the airport to Hanuman Chatti.
- By Rail: The nearest railway station to Yamunotri is Rishikesh and Dehradun. Dehradun station is located 175 km away from Yamunotri and Rishikesh railway station is located 200 km before Yamunotri on NH58. Both these stations are well connected with major destinations in India.
- By Road: Yamunotri is not directly accessible by motor-able roads and the trek commences from Hanuman Chatti. Hanuman Chatti is well connected by motor-able roads with major destinations in Uttarakhand state.
Places to Visit in Yamunotri
There are some popular places to visit in Yamunotri such as Divya Shila, Janki Chatti, Barkot, Kharsali, and Hanuman Chatti. Some places are listed here-
Yamunotri Temple
Dedicated to the Yamuna River, Yamunotri Temple is one of the most crucial Hindu pilgrimage destinations and it is visited every year by pilgrims as a part of Char Dham Yatra. The exceptional craftsmanship and architects par excellence, the white idol of Ganga and black idol of Yamuna is really an excellent treat to watch.
Hanuman Chatti
Sitting at an elevation of 2400 metres above sea level, as the name suggests this holy centre of pilgrimage is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is situated at a distance of 13 kms from the holy temple of Yamunotri Dham.
Janki Chatti
Janki Chatti is popular for its natural hot water springs which has medicinal properties and has been also proven to cure all your physical and mental ailments. This holy centre lies extremely close to the Indo – China border and is cradled comfortably among the massive snow-clad mountains.
Surya Kund
It is the site of the hot water spring at Yamunotri Temple. Pilgrims take a holy dip in Surya in steaming hot water, cooled to comfort for a bath. It is believed that a bath at this holy site showers blessings on God for one’s wellbeing. It is more of a community bath for pilgrims.
Saptrishi Kund
Situated at a distance of 10 kms from the main Dham shrine of Yamunotri, this holy Kund, or glacial lake represents the original source of the holy river Yamuna which is fed continuously by Champasar glacier. It is home to one of the rarest species of flowers, Brahma Kamal, which only grows around the periphery of this lake. The religious significance of this lake lies in the fact that 7 great rishis had once performed their penance around this very lake.
Divya Shila
Popularly named ‘slab of divine light’, this rock pillar is located close to Yamunotri Dham temple and Surya Kund. Perched atop an elevation of 3000 metres above sea level it has become a regular part of the ritual to offer your prayers at this point before proceeding ahead to worship at Yamunotri.
Kharsali
Sitting perfectly at an elevation 2,675 metres above sea level among some of the most breathtakingly magnificent views, this quaint hamlet on the hills is religiously significant since it is the winter abode of Goddess Yamuna. Popularly named as Khushimath, this place is visited by a throng of pilgrims even during the off months of winter when the char Dham doors are closed for Darshan and devotees visit their winter homes to offer their puja rituals.
How to Book Yamunotri Dham Tour Packages
If you want to enjoy the safest and the most comfortable pilgrimage tour then you must book Yamunotri yatra Tour Packages from our website. We have a variety of Chardham tour packages from Delhi, Haridwar, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
You can fill our booking form or directly contact us through email, social media platform or WhatsApp for direct booking of Yamunotri Dham Yatra/ Chardham yatra. Our travel agent will assist you in registration, including form filling, registration, making advance payment and give you the best price for tour packages.
After receiving the payment, we will take you to the divine journey of Yamunotri Dham. You can also customize your Yamunotri package and add Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham to enjoy a comprehensive tour to all the four majors Dhams.
Travel Tips for Yamunotri Dham
Here are some useful travel tips for Yamunotri Dham darshan to help you during your pilgrimage journey-
- Always choose peak pilgrimage months Summer (Mid-April to June) and Autumn Months (September to October) to explore Yamunotri. These months offer the best sightseeing and pilgrimage experience.
- Book your hotels for Yamunotri Yatra in advance due to limited availability in Peak tourism season.
- Pack woolens, warm clothes with thermal layers. The temperature will be cold. Yamunotri is located in the High-altitude Himalayan region.
- You need to be physically fit to do trekking for Yamunotri Dham. Chardham yatra. Start doing breathing exercises, walking etc.
- Wear covered clothes in Yamunotri Dham. Wearing revealing clothes here will be considered disrespectful towards the sacred religious traditions.
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