Yamunotri Tourism And Travel Guide

Yamunotri is a significant pilgrimage destination for Hindus and constitutes one part of the Char Dham Yatra. The city is the spiritual home of the River Yamuna and was built in dedication to the Goddess. Situated at approximately 3293 m above sea level, Yamunotri is home to several religious sites as well as trekking destinations. The city is well connected by road, air and rail. Tourism in Yamunotri is at its peak from May to October. The city tends to come to a standstill during the winter months due to extreme weather conditions. To learn more about things to do here, how to reach and the ideal time to visit, check out this Yamunotri travel guide.

By Air:

Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the closest airport to Yamunotri, located 197 km away. Busses and taxi services are easily available from the airport to get to Yamunotri. Alternately, helicopter services are also available for visitors.

By Road:

Yamunotri is not directly linked via highways. The closest stop on the journey to Yamunotri is at Hanuman Chatti. Following this the only way to reach Yamunotri is via a 14 km trek on foot. However, of late a new road to Yamunotri is being built via Janki Chatti.

By Rail:

Rishikesh Railway Station is the closest station 212 km away. The station offers various taxi and bus services to get to Yamunotri. The station is well connected via railway networks to the other cities, in and around the area.  

Summer (April – July):

This is the best season to visit Yamunotri. The weather is warm during the day but does get chilly and windy at night. The temperature is at an ideal range of 6 to 20° C

Monsoon (July – September):

It is a tricky time to visit Yamunotri. Erratic rainfall can result in landslides and flooding. It is recommended to carefully observe the weather conditions before travelling here in the monsoon. However when the weather holds up, the natural surroundings create a beautiful atmosphere.

Winter (October - March):

Winters see excessive snowfall and blizzards hitting Yamunotri. The temperature can drop to sub-zero levels and travel during this season is not advised.

Visit Yamunotri Temple:

3293 meters above sea level, the Yamunotri temple is the first pilgrimage spot of the Char Dham Yatra. This gorgeous structure is surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides and has the sacred River Yamuna flowing through it.

Visit Kharsali:

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.

Trekking in Yamunotri:

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.

Visit Janki Chatti:

It is called Hanuman Chatti’s sister and is famous for its multiple thermal hot springs, in addition to being the new trekking base for the Yamunotri Dham. It is situated at 2700 metres above sea level.

There are no supermarkets or large shopping districts in this area. However, there are some small shops in the temple area where visitors can buy small religious idols and offerings to keep as mementos. 

There are a couple of local Dhaba's offering traditional cuisine that can be found in and around the main temple area. There are next to zero luxury hotels and resteraunts available in the area. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited, so you only have the option of vegetarian fare.