Yamunotri is one of the most noteworthy religious destinations in the country and a part of the fabled Char Dham Yatra. It is in the western-most part of the great Garhwal Himalayas, situated at a height of 3293 m above sea level. Yamunotri acts as the starting point of Yamuna River. According to a legend, this was also the home of Asit Muni, a respected sage. Tourists flock here for the stunning natural beauty, thermal springs and glaciers on offer. Due to excessive snowfall, the town tends to shut down tourism for a couple of months in the year. The best time to visit is from May to October. Here is our pick of the top things to do in Yamunotri.

A trip to the temple should be on top of your things to do list. The fabled structure was dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, where a black marble statue of her has been expertly created. The temple is at a height of 3293 metres and is surrounded by gorgeous mountains on all sides. This is the first temple out of the four, for pilgrims partaking in the Char Dham Yatra.

The Yamunotri trek is a 6 km trek from Janki Chatti and is perfect for novice trekkers, along the river bank, with mountains trailing in the background. The whole journey to the Yamunotri Temple takes place through a dense forest full of little streams, making for a charming experience.

It is known to be the winter throne to the Goddess Yamuna as during the winter months her idol is shifted out of the Yamunotri temple and into the temple in Kharsali for worship. It is a picturesque hamlet situated at an elevation of 2675 meters above sea level. It is one of the best places to visit some peace and serenity.

A significant religious spot, this thermal spring records temperatures of nearly 88˚C. It is a must visit place before entering the Yamunotri Temple, where pilgrims dip an offering of rice or potatoes mixed with salt into the water and then present the cooked food to the deity of Goddess Yamuna. This is one of the most popular things to do when visiting Yamunotri. 

16,240 feet above sea-level, the Bali Pass is relatively untouched. It is an extremely notorious trekking path and it is strongly recommended to be scaled only with professional and highly experienced guides. The best months to do the trek are expectedly from May to October. The Ruinsara Lake that trekkers can observe on the route, is known to be of unmatched beauty.

Barkot is a charming little town situated 1220 metres above sea level around 50 km away from Yamunotri. It offers scenic views of the surrounding Himalayan Mountains and apple orchards. Additionally, it receives water from both the Yamuna and Ganga Rivers, making for a magical environment. It is very popular for trekking or for family vacations, owing to its rich landscape.

At a height of 2400 meters, Hanuman Chatti serves as the base camp for a number of breath-taking treks to Yamunotri, Dodi Tal and even Darwa Top, making it a trekker’s paradise. It can be found at the meeting point of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, making for a truly picturesque location. The place is full of tourists from May to October.

Known as the sister of Hanuman Chatti, this place is famous for its multiple thermal hot springs, in addition to being the new base for the Yamunotri Dham. It is situated at 2700 metres above sea level and is a unique destination for everything from mediation and prayer to trekking. Throngs of pilgrims travel here from May to October.