Yamunotri is where the circuit begins – the shrine of the Yamuna at about 3,290 m, reached by a 6 km walk from Janki Chatti that most pilgrims do at dawn, pony or palki at hand. It is the Char Dham’s first stop in the traditional order, and its two little rituals – cooking rice in the boiling Surya Kund and touching the Divya Shila before darshan – make it the circuit’s most personal stop. In 2026 it opened on 20 April (Akshaya Tritiya) and closes around 11 November.
Quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deity | Yamuna (the goddess river) |
| Altitude | ~3,290 m |
| Season 2026 | 20 April – ~11 November |
| Access | 6 km trek from Janki Chatti (ponies and palkis available) |
| Winter seat | Kharsali village – the deity moves there for winter |
| Registration | Mandatory, free (how to register) |
The rituals that make it Yamunotri
- Divya Shila: the rock pillar near the source is worshipped before entering the temple.
- Surya Kund: a boiling hot spring beside the temple – pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in cloth bags here and take them home as prasad. Buy the rice sachets at Janki Chatti.
- The dawn start: the 6 km climb is exposed; begin early, descend before afternoon weather builds.
Best time to visit
The season runs late April to early November; May-June and September-October are the comfortable windows. The approach road from Barkot is long and winding – pair it with an overnight at Barkot or Sayanachatti. Dates and the winter abode: opening and closing dates; district context: Uttarkashi.
