Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri temple and ashrams
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictUttarkashi
DeityGoddess Yamuna
Location
StateUttarakhand
Country India
Location in Uttarakhand
Location in India
Geographic coordinates31°1′0.12″N 78°27′0″E / 31.0167000°N 78.45000°E / 31.0167000; 78.45000
Architecture
CreatorMaharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal
Completed19th century
Elevation3,291 m (10,797 ft)
Website

Yamunotri Temple is a Hindu temple, situated in the western region of Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3,291 metres (10,797 ft) in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India. It's just 129 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarters. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, and has a black marble idol of the goddess. The Yamunotri temple is a full day's journey from Uttarakhand's main towns Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun.

The actual temple is only accessible by a 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) trek from the town of Hanuman Chatti and a 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) walk from Janki Chatti; horses or palanquins are available for rent. The hike from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri takes in views of a number of waterfalls. There are two trekking routes from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri; the one along the right bank proceeds via the Markandeya Tirth, where the sage Markandeya wrote the Markandeya Purana. The other route–which lies on the left bank of the river–goes via Kharsali, from where Yamunotri is a five or six hours climb.