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The
Garhwal Himalayas have been
blessed with some of the holiest
Hindu pilgrimage sites and
Yamunotri is one such. One of the
Char Dhams according to Hindu
mythology, Yamunotri is the origin
of the sacred river Yamuna. Famous
for its thermal springs and
glaciers, it is one of the most
important stopovers on the
itinerary of the Hindu pilgrim.
According to a legend, Asit Muni,
a revered sage, used to reside
here.
Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built
the temple in the 19th century.
Destroyed by a major earthquake in
1923, it was subsequently rebuilt,
then again damaged in 1982. It is
located at a height of 3252 meters
(10,700 feet), about 6 km below
the glacier. The temple is
dedicated to the river Yamuna, who
is represented in the form of a
silver idol, bedecked with
garlands. Goddess Yamuna is the
daughter of Surya, the sun God,
and Sangya, the Goddess of
consciousness. Yamuna is also the
sister of Yama, the God of death,
and so anyone bathing in the
waters of the river is spared of a
painful death.
Surya Kund is known for its
thermal springs. The hot water
pool here is used to prepare the
prasad or holy offerings to the
deity, which is normally rice and
potatoes, cooked by tying the food
in cloth bags and dipping it into
the hot water which is as high as
190°F. Divya Shilla is a rock
pillar that is worshipped by the
pilgrims before they enter the
Yamunotri temple.
Best
time to visit this area is in the
summer when one should wear light
woolen clothing.
Sightseeing and Excursions.
Temple of Goddess Yamuna :
The temple was built by Maharani
Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th
century. It was destroyed twice in
the present century and rebuilt
again. The temple remains closed
from November to May.
Surya Kund : There are a
number of thermal springs in the
vicinity of the temple which flow
into numerous pools. The most
important of these is Surya Kund.
Divya Shila : A rock pillar,
worshipped before entering the
Yamunotri Temple.
EXCURSIONS
Sayanachatti : 29 kms. from
Barkot is a scenic spot on the
banks of river Yamuna.
Jankichatti : Noted for its
thermal springs, where tourists
can enjoy a refreshing bath.
Hanumanchatti : The confluence
of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna
rivers, from where the trek to
Dodi Tal (3,307 mts) starts.
The first stopover for the Char
Dham Yatra is the westernmost
shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal
Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess
Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank
of the Bandar Poonchh peak (3165
mts. above sea level) and is
situated opposite to Gangotri. The
shrine attracts devotees in large
numbers from May to October.
Yamunotri is the source of the
revered river Yamuna which
originates from the Champasar
Glacier lying 1 km ahead of the
shrine, at an altitude of 4421 mts.
Pilgrims do not frequently visit
the source of the river as it is
not easily accessible.
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