YAMUNOTRI TEMPLE
AT
UTTARKASHI
Yamunotri Temple is located at a height of 3239 meters above the sea level in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. This temple was built by the King Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah in 1839. As it was damaged by an earthquake, the main temple was rebuilt by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur during the 19th century, which is then known as the center of attraction at Yamunotri. Yamunotri Temple opens every year on Akshaya Tritya, which falls either in the month of April or May and the holy idol of Goddess Yamuna is carried from the nearby village called Kharsali, which is said to be Goddess Yamuna’s Mother’s home.
The temple closes on the next day of Diwali festival called as Yama Dwitiya (which lies on the month of October or November), as the region will be covered with white sheets of snow for the rest of months. It is said that the Goddess Yamuna is a daughter of Lord Surya (Sun) and Goddess Sangya, the Goddess of Perception.
The main deity of this temple is Goddess Yamuna, the source of river Yamuna, believed to be the mother of Human Kind, providing the devotees with rich nourishment. The idol of Goddess Yamuna is made out of black marble. It is said that Yamunotri is specially mention in the Hindu mythology which was the home of an ancient sage named Asti Muni. The mythology says that a dip in the river Yamuna here will absolve all the sins.
Other important spots of Yamunotri are:
Saptarishi Kund (a tank)
Saptarishi Kund is regarded as the origin of the river Yamuna at an altitude of 4421 meters and the water in this kund is bluish in color and holds delightful scenery.
Surya Kund
Surya Kund is a hot boiling spring located at the region of the temple which flows into numerous pools.
Divya Sheel
Divya Sheela is a rock pillar, which gives a delicate feeling to the devotees who visits this place and it is ritual to worship the Divya Sheel before entering the sanctum.
Festivals
Phool Devi – celebrated in the month of March
Basant Panchami – celebrated in the month of March
Olgia – celebrated in the month of August
Poojas
The Aarti timings of Yamunotri temple is from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
The special poojas offered in this temple in the evening period of Janmashtami and Diwali.
By Air
Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport of the city where people visit with the help of any public transport. This airport connects with many other cities and states which make your travel comfortable. It is about 196 km far from the Gangotri.
By Train
Dehradun railway station near to the city which is also the major railway network of the city. Trains are frequent and run for various other destination.
By Road
Buses are very convenient way to move from one place to another. You need to take bus for Hanuman Chatti and then reach this place by trekking as the routes here are not suitable for wheeled traffic. Chandigarh (394km), Delhi (419km), Haridwar (223km), Dehradun (172km) and Mussoorie (142km) can be reached via road.