Rishikesh is one of the best-located pilgrimage centers along the right side of the bank of Ganga. The holy river emerging from the high mountains, not very far from here runs deeply and silently through the thickly wooded hills of the Terai that straddle this region. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife await here. Not to forget to mention the peace and tranquility of a landscape associated with munis and meditation. According to legend sage Raibhya Rishi, undertook staunch penance at Rishikesh to please God. In answer to his meditation, god appeared here manifested as Rishikesh and the place thus came to be called after him. Today, Rishikesh has become a center for learning and research in yoga and meditation the renowned Indian methods for mental and physical health.

The International Yoga Festival which attracts participation from all across the world is held here annually for one week in the month of February (2nd to 7th) on the banks of the serene Ganga.

The rope-bridge `Lakshman Jolla’ stands majestically here as a landmark. This is where Lord Rama's brother Lakshman is said to have crossed the river on a jute rope. The old Lakshman temple is situated on the western bank. Other attractions like the school of Yoga and Meditation and white water rafting camp at Shiv puri 15 kms up stream extends an irresistible invitation.

Triveni Ghat
It is an interesting place to be at dawn when people make offerings of milk to the river and feed fishes. After sunset priests set floating lamps on water during the Aarti ceremony. Nearby is the Bharat Mandir, the oldest temple.

NeelKantha Mahadeva
According to mythological accounts, during Sagar Manthan, Lord Shiva drank all the effluent venom here, which turned his throat blue. Hence, Shiva also became famous as Neel Kantha. A four hour walk from Lakshman Jhoola, this temple is situated at a height of 1700 meters. Quite truly, a not-to-be-missed travel destination away from the maddening crowd.

Parmarth Ashram
Parmarth Ashram is an extremely important spot in Rishikesh. The entire complex is very clean and beautifully decorated with statues and engravings from Hindu Mythology and Culture. They have a dynamic sadhu who is managing the affairs popularly known as “muniji”. They have a well-orchestrated Ganga Aarti at their Ghat every evening where young pundits from their orphanage sing slokas in Sanskrit and Muniji himself presides over the function if he is present. The aarti is a must visit for the tourist to Rishikesh.

The International Yoga Festival is here in the beginning of the every year.

A river beach ahead of Rishikesh

There are many beautiful river beaches just ahead of Rishikesh, many of them surrounded by mysterious dark caves where one is able to enter and meditate in the dark. The beaches have “beach-like sand” on them and one is able to tan themselves after a chilly dip in the Ganga but please respect the culture and do bathe in decent clothes especially women. Rishikesh has many ashrams where one can stay and learn yoga etc. The localites are very used to tourists and so, are friendly. There are excellent book stores and souvenir shops of much higher quality (catering to the foreign tourists) than Haridwar.

This is a very high-end spa and resort about a 40 minutes drive from Rishikesh into the mountains. It was voted one of the best spas in the world by Conde Nest Magazine. It is worth a visit for the ambience, the Ayurvedic food, and the site from the hotel. The treatments in the spas are probably only for hotel guests.

Popular as The Queen of Hills commanding a wonderful view of extensive Himalayan snow ranges to the north west and glittering views of the Doon Valley at an altitude of 2000m and 34 km beyond Dehradun is a popular hill station. Discovered in 1827 by Captain Young, a Military Officer, it is now a premier tourism destination among tourists especially as it is the nearest hill station to Delhi. Mussorie is a popular destination for tourists throughout the year with its green hills, varied flora & fauna & infrastructure enough to accommodate hundreds of tourists jostling for it to escape the heat of the plains. It snows in winter and is quite peaceful at that time. It provides all kind of amusement & every facility for domestic and foreign tourists. The Mall Road connects Kulri & Library Bazaars. Buses from Dehradun go to the Library or Picture Palace (Kuril bazaar) bus stands. During the peak season the Mall Road is closed to traffic. At some extra height above the town, the air is cleaner & pine scented. Lovely walks along the mountain ridges can be taken. The Woodstock International School & an International Language school are set on beautiful locations.

Getting There

Dehradun is the nearest air head & rail head for Mussorie, at a distance of 34km. In Mussorie, Northern Railways Reservation Counter at Clearance House, near State Bank of India & GPO at Kurii Bazaar provides booking facilities - 632846, Monday to Saturday, 0800-1100 hrs & 1200 -1500 hrs, Sunday 0800-1400 hrs.

Road :

There are numerous buses of state roadways from Mussorie bus stand at Dehradun to Mussorie between 0630-2030 hrs. These go either to the Library Bus Stand or Masonic Lodge Bus Stand. From Delhi (300km) Inter State Bus Terminal there is a morning & night bus service direct to Mussorie. Private taxis are available from the stand at Delhi's Ajmeri Gate, rates negotiable at around Rs. 2000. One can share the same with other passengers. Taxis regularly ply during the season on shared basis from the stand next to the railway station at Dehradun for Mussorie, cost Rs. 350. This can be shared also. One should expect a rise in the cost of fare during the peak season, April-June & Sept-Nov. Mussorie is also connected by regular bus services to all the major centres of tourist interest in the regions like Tehri (76 km), Srinagar (1335km), Barkot (89 km), Hanuman Chatti (129km) & Saharanpur (110 km) The Tehri bus stand is for buses to Tehri (five hours) & is connected to Uttarakashi & Gangotri. Taxis can also be hired from the library & Kuln stands for excursions & other destinations.

Local Transport :

The Mall road is closed to traffic most of the year except in winter, so to traverse the two kms distance between Kurli & the Library area. Transportation means cycle rickshaws & horses/ponies. Cars can ply on The Mall after paying Rs. 60/- between 0700-1700 hrs. However parking in the mall is strictly restricted. The rates for cycle-rickshaws & riding horses are fixed. Baggage porters are available at both the stands & throughout the city, rates are fixed by the city board & district administration. Car and vehicle parking places are notified and parking rates are fixed. Rate lists are available at Tourist Offices – 632863. A cable car is operated by authorities between the lower station, Mall and the upper station on the Gun hill. Private taxis are available from taxi stands at fixed rates by authorities for excursions & sightseeing around Mussorie. Local bus services for Barlowganj & Jharipani is available from Masonic Lodge Stand 0800, 1000, 1200, 1500 & 1700 hrs. During the season (May-Oct) buses are available for Kempty Fall from the bus stand near Dwaper Hotel.

Also spelt Dehradoon (Dehra means camp, doon means valley). The town is situated in a wooded valley in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalaya. The district is spread over 1880 sq.m with Himalaya on the north, Shivalik Hills on the south, river Ganga on the east & Yamuna on the west. The place is a major academic & research centre. The most important are forest Research Institute (FRI), Survey of India, Indian Military Academy (IMA) &: the Doon School. Dehradun is a pleasant place to stop enroute the hill station of Mussorie, 34 km away, on a high mountain range above Dehradun. The pilgrim & yoga town of Rishikesh (43km) & Haridwar, a half an hour drive from Rishikesh from the golden triangle with Dehradun is the important gateway to Garhwal Himalayas. The hub of the town is the Clock Tower and the area north of the Clock Tower, Astley Hall. Paltan Bazaar is the main market and the Rajpur Road is the new commercial heart of the city.

Getting There

Air :

Jolly Grant, airstrip is 24 km from the city of Dehradun on the Dehradun- Rishikesh highway. It is 18 km from Rishikesh, 35 km from Haridwar & 38 km from Mussorie via Dehradun. The Jollygrant at Dehradun is the only facility in the Garhwal region and located centrally to provide access to other gateways Rishikesh/ Haridwar for Garhwal Himalayas. Dehradun now being the working capital of the State of Uttarakhand born on 9th November 2000 has the majority & main airline offices located here. Tourist Cabs/ Taxis can be hired outside the airport for transfer into city centre and to the other major cities of the region. Also available is the state roadway transport outside the airport operating on way between Dehradun & Rishikesh. It takes almost an hour to reach Dehradun from the airport. The rates for hiring the taxi cab are generally fixed for transfer to city centres & popular destinations but still one should negotiate generally.

Rail:

Dehradun is a terminus of Northern Railway. Services to Dehradun, include fully air conditioned Shatabdi Express leaving New Delhi Railway Station at 0710 hrs everyday via Haridwar reaching Dehradun at 1240 hrs. Chair Car/ Executive Class costs Rs. 515/1035. The Mussorie Express (4041) is an overnight daily train from Delhi starting 2115 hrs & reaching Dehradun at 0800 hrs, Doon Express (3010) from Dehradun to Howrah Link Express (4113) from Allahabad, Bandra Dehradun Express (9019) from Mumbai, Varanasi Dehradun Express (4263) are other important daily services to Dehradun. Enquiry arrival /departure trains - 131, 622131

Road:

The Delhi Bus Stand, besides the GMVN Drona Hotel serves most destinations on the plains. Buses of state roadways of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal, Chandigarh, Haryana & Rajasthan, along with private operators connect Dehradun with other centres of the region. Deluxe coaches are also simultaneously available. Buses from Delhi depart at regular intervals and it takes about 6 hours maximum to travel to Dehradun on GT road via Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, Roorkee (turn off to Dehradun).The Mussorie Bus Stand near the railway station has frequent services to Mussorie. Travel time about an hour. Other hill destinations; Other buses go to Nainital (II hrs), Uttarkashi (7 hrs) &L Tehri (4 hrs.), Shimla in Himachal Pradesh (7 hrs) etc.

The other option is Taxis, especially from/ to Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mussorie; either full or on a per seat shared basis. They start from opposite Delhi & Mussorie Bus Stands. A full taxi from Dehradun to Mussorie will cost Rs. 350, Rishikesh Rs. 400 and Haridwar Rs. 500. During peak season one will be required to pay almost 25% extra.

Local Transport:

Six scatcrs Tempos (Vikram) is the most common mode of public transport. They run on the fixed routes and rates are also fixed. They are basically three wheelers with a capacity to adjust even 10 people. Auto rickshaws are available along with the unmetered taxis for local running. Rates are negotiable for both these modes of local transport. GMVN at Hotel Drona also provides the facility of hiring taxis. Car taxis can also be hired from local operators a few of which we have listed in this publication.

Haridwar is the starting point for the Char Dham (four holy places) i.e. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri as it is situated just on the foothills. From Rishikesh onwards one ascends into the majestic Himalayan ranges and awaits a rejuvenating spiritual experience for the devout. In the old times, it was so dangerous to travel to these spots that people would bid goodbye to their families and then start their journeys because they weren’t sure if they would be back. Today it is much safer but still the area remains prone to landslides, biting cold climate and a lot of snowfall. Hence these holy shrines are only open for few months each year, starting in the month of May-June and ending in October. The rest of the year these places remain closed for the safety of public due to heavy snowfall. Traditionally the yatra is done from the west to the east- starting from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The Badrinath Temple

On the right bank of Alaknanda lies the sacred spot perched at an altitude of 3,133 meters above the sea level. Encircled by a beautiful valley, the 15 mts high temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola. Built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya the philosopher-saint of the 8th century. The temple has been renovated several times due to damages caused by avalanches. It’s colorful 'singh dwara' or the main entrance gate gives it a new and modern look. The temple is divided into three parts. The 'garbha griha' or sanctum sanctorum, the' darshan mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'sabha mandap' where devotees assemble. The complex has 15 idols. The one meter high, image of Badrinath finely sculpted in black stone is very attractive. It represents lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose. Guarded on both sides by two mountains Nar and Narayana, the NeelKantha Peak provides a splendid backdrop to Badrinath, one of the ‘Four Dhams’. One of the most celebrated pilgrim spots in the country, it plays host to the famous Badrinath Temple. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area, called ‘Badri Van’, or the berry garden, to meditate after Narad rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. The main deity is a meditating Lord Vishnu. Facing the temple at the bank of Alaknanda River is a hot water spring known as "Tapt Kund", a bath which is very refreshing to all travelers. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji is five meters high, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. The temple opens every year in the month of April-May and closes for winters in the third week of November. Even though legend dates the temple back to the Vedic age, Guru Adi Shankaracharya has established the present temple. The temple has three parts - Garbha Grih (The Sanctum Sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Sabha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).

Yog Dhyan Badri :
The temple of Yog Dhyan Badri, one of the five Badris is located at Pandukeshwar (1920mts.) just 24kms away from Badrinath on Rishikesh - Badrinath highway. The image, depicting a meditative posture of the Lord is worshipped here. The Pandavas are said to have handed over Hastinapur to king Parikshit and retired here.

Bhavishya Badri :
The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an elevation of 3641mts and is surrounded by dense forests. It is located at Subain near Tapovan, about 17kms east of Joshimath on Joshimath - Lata Malari route. Pilgrims have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga river.

It is believed that a day will come when the present route to Badrinath will become inaccessible and Lord Badrinath will then be worshipped here. Hence the name ' Bhavishya Badri' which literally means the “future Badri".

Adi Badri :
Approachable from Karnprayag by a motorable road on the way to Ranikhet, are the remains of 16 small temples. Seven of them are ancient ones belonging to the late Gupta period. The credit for building these temples is generally given to Shankaracharya. The main temple of Narayana is distinguished by a raised platform in the pyramid from where the idol is enshrined. Sculpted out of black stone, the idol of Lord Vishnu is a meter high.

Vriddha Badri :
Situated at an altitude of 1380mts and at a distance of 7kms from Joshimath is Animath, the place where several centuries before the advent of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath was enshrined and worshipped. The idol is known as Vriddha old or the first Badri and the temple remains open throughout the year.

General Information
Area: 3 sq.kms.
Altitude: 3133 mts.
Season: From opening to closing, generally from April to November.
Clothing: Heavy woolen garments required through out.

Restaurants
Vijaya-Laxmi Restaurant
Saket Restaurant
Urvashi Restaurant
Several other ordinary restaurants
Liquor and non-vegetarian food are prohibited.

Excursions
Mata Murty Temple
Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include Sesh Netra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.

Mana Village
Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Vasundhara
As the name suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent waterfall. This place is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorable upto Mana.

Panch Dharas
(a) Prahlad Dhara (b) Kurma Dhara (c) Urvashi Dhara (d) Bhrigu Dhara (e) Indra Dhara

Panch Shilas
(a) Narad Shila (b) Varaha Shila (c) Garurh Shila (d) Markandeya Shila (e) Narshingh Shila.

Tapt Kund
Natural thermal springs on the bank of river Alaknanda where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.

Narad Kund
A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

Brahma Kapal
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Sheshnetra
1.5 kms away is a boulder containing an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag's eye.

Charanpaduka
33kms away is a beautiful meadow where the foot print of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder.

NeelKantha

Skiing at Auli from Joshimath

A pyramid shaped snowy peak (6,600mts.) towering above Badrinath presents a dramatic sight. It is popularly known as the ' Garhwal Queen'.

A view of the town of Kedarnath with the main temple visible on the left of the picture

Kedarnath is a small town in the mid hills of the Himalayan mountains in the state of Uttarakhand of north-western India. It is a Hindu holy town and is one of Himalaya’s Char Dham yatra. Kedarnath is located at about 3584 mtrs above sea level and lies near the head of river Mandakini. It is flanked by many breathtaking peaks. If you arrive in the early or late season, you will most likely find your path in the morning and evening to be frozen and slippery. Then the temple and houses are all under a pack of snow and the people around packed with many layers of clothes and all shivering sipping tea at the teashop next to the temple. Sadhus camp on the streets while trying to stay warm by burning locally found woods. Kedarnath hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples and is an ever more popular destination for Hindu pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. In a scenic spot at the origin of the river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is most venerated amongst the Hindu pilgrims. Kedarnath is accessible by a 13 km trek through a hilly paved path (horses or palanquins are available for rent) from Gaurikund. Gaurikund is a day's travel by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other important hill stations in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand.

As the legend goes, in the Mahabharata, while on their Himalayan pilgrimage, the Pandavas decided to pay homage to Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva was not interested in meeting them as they were guilty of gotra hatya (killing their brethren). Seeing the Pandavas coming, the Lord disguised himself as a bull. But the Pandavas saw through Shiva's disguise. Realizing that his disguise had not worked, the bull tried to plunge himself beneath the ground but Bhima was swift and held on the legs of the bull, thus preventing it from vanishing. In the struggle that ensue different parts of Lord Shiva's body appeared at various places in Kedarkhand. The forehead showed up at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, the hump of the bull at Kedarnath, the torso including the navel at Madhmaheshwar, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar. The Indian Panch Kedar trek includes all the five shrines associated with the Kedar legend. All of them are situated in the Kedar Valley.

Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, and the name for the stone rounded by years of lengthy travelling in Ganga (Ganges River). In all there are over 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Chamoli district itself, the most important surely being Kedarnath. Kedarnath is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. There are a few small places en route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, like Janglechatti, Rambara and Garurchatti, where you can rest a while or spend the night if the travel becomes too tiring, or if you wish to take it a bit slower and enjoy the magnificent surroundings. Just one kilometer before Rambara there is a high and beautiful cascading waterfall which crashes down the heights.

As one approaches from Garurchatti, the Kedarnath temple is visible on advancing some 500 meters. With the background of towering white mountains mantled with snow, the temple presents an enchanting sight. All around it is an aura of peace and purity. Here, the unholy are said to become holy and the holy, holier still. The temple is magnificent in its style and architecture. It is built on a morainic ridge jutting out at right angles from the snowy range. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from the Indian mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of Nandi Bull stands as guard. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The place remains closed from November to April due to heavy weather while the temple is submerged under thick packs of snow. Besides its affiliation with Shiva, Kedarnath is also believed to be the site of Shankaracharya's samadhi. No specific family of pujaris supervises the various rituals at Kedarnath. Amidst the mountain scapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve ' Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3.581 mts above sea level on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage for the Hindus. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legend the Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva to atone their sins after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving behind his hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol on the shrine. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at four places the arms (bahu) at Tungnath, mouth (mukha) at Rudranath, naval (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath, these places are known as the panch Kedar.

Helicopter Services To Kedarnath

A view of the town of Kedarnath with the main temple visible on the left of the picture

Pawan Hans is resuming daily helicopter services from 12th May 2005, from Agastya Muni (distt. Rudraprayag) to Kedarnath. Flight will depart from Agastya Muni daily between 6:30 am to 11:10 am, by a 5-seater Bell 407 helicopter. Agast Muni is located 17 km beyond Rudraprayag enroute to Kedarnath. Rudraprayag is about 140 km from Rishikesh and is linked by good motorable roads.

 

Yamunotri Temple view

The first stopover for the Char Dham Yatra is the western most shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank of the Bandar Poonchh peak (3.165 mts above sea level) and is situated opposite Gangotri. The shrine attracts devotees in large numbers from May to October. Yamunotri is situated at an altitude of 3,235 m above the sea level in the district of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand in northern India. It is a full day's journey from Uttarakhand's main towns — Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun. The source of the river Yamuna lies about 1 km further ahead at an altitude of about 4,421 m. It is the seat of the goddess Yamuna, and one of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage. The sacred river of Yamuna originates from Yamunotri glaciers on the western edge of the Bandarpoochh peak (6,315 m).Yamunotri can be reached by a 13 km trek from Hanuman Chatti. Maharani Gularia of Jaipur constructed the temple of Goddess Yamuna in the 19th century AD by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur. The temple remains closed from November to May because of heavy rainfall and snow. There are quite a few thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple which flow into several pools. The most important of these springs is the Surya Kund. Divya Shila is a rock pillar which is worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple. The current temple are of recent origin, as past literations have been destroyed by the weather, ritual duties such as the making and distribution of prasad (sanctified offerings) and the supervision of pujas (ritual venerations) are performed by the Uniyal family of pujaris (priests). Unique aspects of ritual practice at the site include hot springs where raw rice is cooked and made into prasad. Mythologically Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun just like Yama who is also considered his son. It is believed that Yama would not torment any person at the time of death who bathes in Yamuna that is his sister. Near freezing Yamunotri glaciers there are steaming hot spring known as Kunds. All this present divinely control over the entire setting. Surya Kund is the most important Kund. A pinch of rice or some potatoes tied loosely in a cloth and dipped in it and after few minutes is taken out gets completely cooked which is normally taken as 'Prasad' back home by the pilgrims. Near 'Surya Kund' there is 'Shila' called 'Dibya Shila' which is worshipped before Puja is offered to Yamuna ji. Nearby, there is Jamuna Bai Kund built about 100 years ago which is used for the holy bath. The water is pleasantly warm and relaxing. The 'Pandas' or the Pujari of Yamunotri come from the village of Kharsala which is on the other bank of Yamuna near Janki Bai Chatti.

Surya Kund
There are a number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple that flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.

Divya Shila
A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Janki Chatti
0.5 km from Yamunotri, it is noted for its thermal springs where tourists can enjoy a refreshing bath.

Hanuman Chatti
13 km from Yamunotri the confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna rivers from where the trek to Dodi Tal (3,307 m) begins.

Ayana Chatti
27 kms from Barkot and 18 km from Yamunotri is a scenic spot on the banks of river Yamuna.

Chamba
Situated at an elevation of 1,524 mtrs, it is a picturesque place with a panoramic view of the Himalayas. The road from here bifurcates for Mussorie, New Tehri and Rishikesh.

En Route
The shrine of Yamunotri and the source of the Yamuna river is situated in the direction opposite Gangotri. The road diversifies and goes to Yamunotri from Dharasu, a place between Rishikesh and Uttarkashi. Another 55 km away is Barkot, giving a fabulous view of the Bandarpoochh range. Barkot is also approachable by road directly from Delhi (334 km) via Saharanpur, Harbartpur, Nainbagh and Naugaon. 8 km from Barkot is Gangani, a place of pilgrimage, on the left bank of Yamuna. The holy tank here is called Gangayan Kund. Water from the tank is taken for puja purposes to the opposite village of Than, housing the imposing temple of Rishi Jamdagni. 2 kms from Gangani is Kharadi a place known for its roaring waterfall.

The motorable road continues till Phulchatti via Syanachatti, Ranachatti and Hanumanchatti, 42 km from Barkot. From here to Yamunotri is an 8 km trek via Jankichati for which ponies, dandies and kandies (baskets for carrying children) are available. Jankichati is also known as 'Beef' in the revenue records. The village has a small temple dedicated to Narain Bhagwan. From Jankichati to Yamunotri is a steep, continuous climb of 5 km.

The temple of Yamunotri lies on the left bank and was originally constructed by Maharaj Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. Near the temple are three hot springs. The most important, Surya Kund which is a tank full of boiling water into which rice and potatoes are dipped to be cooked and taken as “prasad”. Near the Kund, a rock slab, the 'Divya Shila' is worshipped before puja is offered to the black marble idol of Yamuna. The shrine of Yamunotri is one of the 'four dhams' of Uttarakhand. The source of Yamuna lays 1 kms ahead at an altitude of about 4421 meters. The approach is extremely difficult and pilgrims usually offer puja at the temple itself.

General Information

Season - May to November
Temperatures
Summer : Max. 20 deg. C.
Min. 06 deg. C .
Winter : Max. Sub-Zero
Min. Snowbound

Clothing and Language

May to July - Light woolen
September to November - Heavy woolens.

Language/Dialects:- Hindi, English and Garhwali.

Accessibility:

Airport: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 196 kms from Yamunotri via Dehradun, 240 kms via Rishikesh.

Railhead: Nearest railheads are Rishikesh (213 kms.), Dehradun and Haridwar.

Road: Dharasu 107 kms, Tehri 149 kms, Rishikesh 213 kms, Dehradun 172 kms.

Bus Services: Regular Bus Services to Yamunotri operate from Rishikesh.

Other Facilities:
STD Booths -: Matali, Dunda, Dharasu Band, Brahmkhal, Ranachatti, Syanachatti.
Bank - S.B.I. has a Branch at Barkot.
Post Office- Post Office at Hanumanchatti.
A temporary Post Office is set up at Jankichati during the Yatra Season.

Accommodation
Lodging at the Yamunotri temple itself is limited to a few small ashrams and guest houses. Pilgrims can find accommodation in the houses belonging to the 'Pandas' or the sole Dharamshala. On the way one can stay at Janaki Chatti 8 kms from Hanuman Chatti. There are tourist bungalows, PWD and forest rest houses and dharamshalas.

Accommodation en route

Tourist Rest Houses

Barkot - Type of room: Deluxe, Dormitory
Syanachatti - Type of room: Ordinary
Hanumanchatti - Type of room: Executive, Dormitory
Jankichati - Type of room: Executive, Ordinary, Dormitory
Yamunotri - Type of room: Dormitory

Supplementary accommodation

P.W.D. Inspection Bungalow at Barkot, Hanumanchatti.
Forest Rest Houses at Dharasu, Jankichati, Barkot, Hanumanchatti.
Ashrams and Dharamshalas At Yamunotri - Kali Kamli Dharamshala, Mandir Samiti Dharamshala.

Hotels

At Barkot: Shiva, Raturi, Rawat, Chauhan, Mishrwan, Agarwal Lodge, Rain Basera.
At Syanachatti: Kalindi, Dipin Tourist Lodge, Jai, Himalayan.
At Ranachatti: Krishn Lok, Chauhan, Ganga Yamuna, Sandeep.
At Hanumanchatti: Chauhan Tourist Lodge ,Anand Bhawan
At Janaki Chatti: Himalaya Darshan, Ganga Yamuna , Kalindi Mangal, Arvind Ashram