Yamunotri Temple Guide: Trek, Timings, Surya Kund and How to Reach

Facts checked November 2026.

Yamunotri is the first dham on the Char Dham yatra and the westernmost of the four. It is also the only one where every yatri must walk, ride or be carried for the last stretch. This guide explains where the temple is, how to reach it from Haridwar or Rishikesh, what the walk is really like, the rituals at Surya Kund and the Divya Shila, and how to plan for elderly parents.

This page is part of our Gangotri and Yamunotri Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Char Dham and Do Dham yatra packages.

Where is Yamunotri temple and why is it sacred?

Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna and the seat of Maa Yamuna. The Uttarkashi district website places it at 3,293 metres (10,804 ft), on a flank of Bandar Poonch Parvat in the Garhwal Himalayas, and calls it the westernmost shrine of the region.

The official Char Dham registration portal says the temple was first built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. Maa Yamuna is revered as the sister of Yama, the god of death, and devotees believe that bathing in her waters gives protection from untimely death. For this reason many families make Yamunotri the first darshan of their Char Dham, before Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

What should you do at Yamunotri, step by step?

1. Surya Kund: a natural hot spring next to the temple. Devotees tie rice and potatoes in a cloth and cook them in its water, and take them home as prasad of the Goddess. The water is very hot, so keep children and elders back from the edge.
2. Divya Shila: a sacred rock pillar near the temple, worshipped before you enter the shrine.
3. Darshan of Maa Yamuna: join the queue at the temple. On busy mornings the queue can be long, so reach early.
4. Sankalp and puja: the local pujaris can help with a short puja or sankalp in your family’s name. Agree any dakshina before the puja starts.

What are Yamunotri temple timings and aarti times?

The official portal had not published daily opening, closing, aarti or bhog times when we checked; it says they will be announced. Timings at Yamunotri change with the season and with crowds, so we do not print a timetable that we cannot confirm. Plan to start the walk from Janki Chatti early in the morning, take darshan before midday, and be back at Janki Chatti before dark. Ask at your hotel or at the temple for that day’s aarti time.

The temple opens for the season around Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Bhai Dooj after Diwali. In 2026 it opened on 19 April. For exact dates by year and the expected next opening, see our Yamunotri opening and closing date guide.

How do you reach Yamunotri?

There is no airport or railway station close to Yamunotri. Every road yatri drives to Janki Chatti, the last motorable point, usually via Dehradun, Mussoorie and Barkot, and then walks or rides the rest of the way.

• By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun.
• By train: Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh stations. Haridwar has the widest choice of long-distance trains.
• By road: to Janki Chatti via Barkot, then the walk.
• By helicopter: the official portal says chartered helicopters are available from Dehradun.

Add the walk of 5 to 6 km each way to these figures. The Uttarkashi district website gives Yamunotri as 130 km from the district headquarters, so expect small differences between sources. Landslides and one-way traffic can add hours in the monsoon. Our Char Dham route map shows the full stage-by-stage road plan, with the usual night at Barkot.

How long is the Yamunotri trek from Janki Chatti?

The official portal gives the walk from Janki Chatti to the temple as 6 km, taking about 2 to 3 hours. On our own yatras the walk has come to about 5 km one way, so plan for 5 to 6 km each way. Allow a full day to go up and come back, with time for darshan and rest.

• The path: a paved mountain path that climbs steadily. It is narrow in places and shared with ponies, so walk on the hill side and let animals pass.
• Weather: mornings are cold even in May and June, and afternoons can bring rain. Carry a light raincoat and a warm layer.
• Altitude: 3,293 m is high enough for some people to feel breathless or get a headache. Walk slowly, drink water and rest often. Read our altitude sickness guide before you go.

Pony, palki or doli: which should you choose?

Ponies, palkis and dolis are available for the climb, according to the official portal. A pony suits adults who can sit on a horse for a few hours. A palki or doli, carried by bearers, suits elders and anyone with knee or back trouble. Children often go in a pithu (a basket carried on a porter’s back).

We could not find a current official rate list for Yamunotri on a government website, so we do not print rates. Hire only at the official counter at Janki Chatti, confirm the rate and whether it is one way or return, and ask for a receipt.

The district also controls the number of animals on the path. In May 2024 the Uttarkashi District Magistrate limited horses and mules between Janki Chatti and Yamunotri to 800, allowed them only between 4 am and 5 pm, and banned horses, mules and sticks beyond Ghoda Padav, as reported by the Free Press Journal. Similar rules may be issued each season, so plan to finish the ride within those hours.

Do you need registration for Yamunotri?

Yes. Registration on the Uttarakhand government’s Char Dham portal is compulsory for every yatri, and it is free. Register yourself and your vehicle before you set out, and keep the registration slip on your phone or printed for the checkpoints. Our Char Dham registration guide has the steps.

Is there a dress code at Yamunotri?

We did not find a written dress code on the official portal. Wear modest, comfortable clothes that you can walk in, with warm layers. Carry a spare set of clothes if you plan to bathe in the hot-water kund at Janki Chatti.

When is the best time to visit Yamunotri?

• Opening weeks (late April to June): pleasant days, cold nights and the biggest crowds.
• Monsoon (July to mid-September): rain, slippery paths and road blocks between Barkot and Janki Chatti. Keep spare days.
• Autumn (mid-September to closing): clearer skies and fewer people, with very cold mornings near the end of the season.

Where do Yamunotri yatris stay?

Most road yatras stay at Barkot, about 45 km from Janki Chatti, and do Yamunotri as one long day. Smaller guesthouses at Janki Chatti and Hanuman Chatti let you start the walk at first light, but rooms are basic and fill quickly in the opening weeks. Book ahead in May and June.

What else can you see near Yamunotri?

• Janki Chatti: the roadhead, known for its natural hot springs.
• Kharsali: the winter seat of Maa Yamuna, with an ancient Shani temple.
• Hanuman Chatti: the starting point for treks to Darwa Top and Dodital.
• Barkot: a hill town on the way, where most yatris spend the night.
• Dodital: a high-altitude lake for trekkers with extra days.

Where is Maa Yamuna worshipped in winter?

When the doors close on Bhai Dooj, the doli of Maa Yamuna is taken down to Kharsali, a village near Janki Chatti, and daily puja continues there until the temple reopens. Kharsali is close to the Janki Chatti roadhead, so winter darshan does not need the long climb. Read our Kharsali village guide for the winter seat and the doli rituals. Check road conditions before you go in mid-winter.

Is Yamunotri suitable for senior citizens?

Yes, with planning. The road part is long but easy; the 5 to 6 km climb is the hard part. Most elders take a palki or doli. Get a medical check-up before the yatra, carry regular medicines, keep the day unhurried, and turn back if anyone has chest pain, severe breathlessness or confusion.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar (11 days by road) starts with Yamunotri, with two nights at Barkot so the walk is not rushed. If you only want the two Garhwal dhams of the Ganga and Yamuna, read our Gangotri and Yamunotri yatra guide and call or WhatsApp us on +91 78178 98687 to plan dates.

Frequently asked questions

How many km is the Yamunotri trek?

The walk from Janki Chatti to Yamunotri temple is 5 to 6 km one way. The official Char Dham portal says 6 km, about 2 to 3 hours up. Plan for 10 to 12 km there and back, plus time for darshan.

Can you reach Yamunotri temple by car?

No. Vehicles go only up to Janki Chatti. From there you walk or hire a pony, palki, doli or pithu for the 5 to 6 km climb to the temple.

What is the height of Yamunotri temple?

Yamunotri is at 3,293 metres (10,804 ft) above sea level, according to the Uttarkashi district website and the official registration portal.

What is Surya Kund at Yamunotri?

Surya Kund is a natural hot spring beside the temple. Devotees cook rice and potatoes tied in cloth in its water as an offering and take them home as prasad.

Who built Yamunotri temple?

The official Char Dham registration portal says the temple was originally built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal.

Is there a helicopter to Yamunotri?

There is no regular shuttle like Kedarnath. Chartered helicopters fly from Dehradun as part of Char Dham helicopter yatras, and yatris still go up the last stretch by pony, palki or on foot.

Where is Yamunotri in winter?

In winter Maa Yamuna is worshipped at Kharsali village near Janki Chatti. Kharsali is close to the Janki Chatti roadhead and is also known for its ancient Shani temple.

How many days do you need for Yamunotri?

From Haridwar, most families keep two nights at Barkot: one day to drive up and one full day for the walk and darshan. Add a spare day in the monsoon.