Yamunotri Dham Temple
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Uttarakhand is also known as Devbhoomi or 'Land of the gods' for being a land blessed with numerous temples, shrines, and pilgrimage sites. 4 Dham Yatra is a pilgrimage tour that devotees of Hinduism pursue to visit the four holy shrines based in Uttarakhand. These are some of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Hinduism and consist of the four Hindu temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, located in the Himalayas, which should be visited in particular order, starting from Yamunotri and concluding at Badrinath.
Ever since the advent of this year’s 4 Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand has seen an influx of devotees. In the beginning days after the gates were opened for the four main temples of the pilgrimage, the state saw an unexpected rise in their number, causing the government to restrict their access by closing down offline registrations in Haridwar and Rishikesh for two weeks, which has now been revoked ever since the beginning of June, making it easier for devotees to travel to the pilgrimage sites.
The CharDham Yatra 2024 that began on 10th May has seen visits by over 30 lakh devotees in total, that include 10,25,608 pilgrims to Kedarnath, 8,45,303 to Badrinath, 3,74,017 to Yamunotri, 4,75,979 to Gangotri, and 5,07,249 pilgrims to the Hemkund Sahib as well, coming up to 21,031,113. Last year’s yatra saw visits by over 13 lakh devotees in its initial 39 days which has been taken over by this year in just over 31 days.
With the increase in the number of pilgrims, there are more risks involved for the devotees who do not practice caution during the yatra. As such, it is advised for those pilgrims who are medically unfit to avoid traveling during the busy yatra season. The best time to visit the temples of the Char Dham would be between mid-July till September. Due to the amount of people traveling to Uttarakhand, it is also recommended that you book your hotel and stay well in advance and do not rely on last minute bookings for a hassle free yatra experience.
Dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna, Yamunotri Temple forms the first leg of the 4 Dhams Yatra, from where the pilgrimage tour commences. The temple is located at a height of 10,606 ft. and worships the River Yamuna who is considered to be the most sacred river, after the River Ganga. Being one of the 4 temples that are visited during the Four Dham Yatra, the temple attracts thousands of ardent devotees throughout the year. When visiting the temple, it is considered extremely auspicious to take a dip in the River Yamuna that flows along the temple, which is believed to prevent untimely death. Inside the temple one can see the holy idol of Goddess Yamuna, a revered idol made of black stone and adorned with beautiful carvings. Located among the Garhwal Himalayas, the temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna is among the important temples for the Hindus in the country.
The temple of Goddess Ganga, the Gangotri Temple is another temple that is to be visited during the 4 Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The temple is highly revered and worships the Goddess Ganga and her earthly form as the sacred River. The beautiful temple, situated among the lofty hills of the Himalayas, offers a sense of peace with its landscape and pure white color, making it stand out among the dense forests. It is at a distance of around 19 km from the temple that the source of the holy river of Ganga is located, known as the Gaumukh, originating from the Gangotri glacier. The Ganga River has a lot of significance in Hinduism and is considered to be the holiest of the holy rivers by the devotees. It is believed that taking a dip in the water of the river will forgive sins and help the devotee attain salvation.
A significant temple of the 4 Dham Yatra, the Kedarnath Temple is an important temple in Uttarakhand dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is part of the twelve jyotirlingas that are spread throughout the country. Jyotirlingas are revered temples dedicated to Lord Shiva where he himself is said to have been manifested at some point. The Kedarnath Temple is one such temple at which Lord Shiva showed himself in his bull form while trying to escape the Pandavas, who later erected a temple to him to commemorate the holy place. At a height of 11,745 ft. the Kedarnath temple is among the highest Shiva temples in the Garhwal Himalayas. Apart from being part of the holy 4 Dhams Yatra, the temple is also an important one for the Panch Kedar Pilgrimage circuit of Uttarakhand. Attracting hordes of devotees every year, the Kedarnath Temple is an important pilgrimage site visited by Hindus.
The 4dham Yatra that begins from the Yamunotri Temple, followed by the Gangotri Temple, and Kedarnath, comes to a conclusion at the Badrinath Temple. The temple, located among the Garhwal Himalayas is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu, who is also referred to as Lord Badrinarayan. The main idol of Lord Vishnu inside the temple is made of black stone, and exists alongside an idol of Garuda, his bird-carrier. Tracing the temple's origins, it is believed that the temple was established in the 9th century by Guru Adi Shankaracharya, a prominent scholar and teacher from the Vedic age. A statue dedicated to him can also be found at the temple. One of the most important temples for the followers of Hinduism, the Badrinath Temple is also pleasing to the eyes, located along the banks of the River Alakananda with the mighty Himalayas in the background.
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The Chardham Yatra follows a pilgrimage visit to the four holy temples of the Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in the Garhwal Himalayan region. Located among the majestic Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the temples of the 4 dham remain open between the months of April to early November. Given their altitude and location, the temples witness a good amount of snowfall during the winters and are closed down for the season since it is extremely difficult to traverse the route during this time. It is therefore advisable to visit the temples and undertake the Yatra during the months of April, May, June, September, October, and November, as it is the most pleasant time of the year for a visit to the state. Uttarakhand experiences heavy rains and landslides during the months of July and August due to monsoons and hence it is recommended to avoid traveling to the state during this time.
The 4 Dham Temples in Uttarakhand include the 4 temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, located among the high hills of the Himalayas. The words "Char Dham" refers to the "4 abodes of the gods", where "Char" means four, and "Dham" means "abode of the gods", and are considered to be highly sacred places by the devotees of Hinduism. The first among the Chardham temples, the Yamunotri Temple is believed to have been constructed by the Tehri King, Naresh Sudarshan Shah in 1839 and reconstructed by Gularia Devi, Maharani of Jaipur later, after it saw some damage due to an earthquake.
The Gangotri Temple of the 4 dham was established by a Gorkha General in the 18th century and worships the earthly form of Goddess Ganga. Established by the Pandavas, the Kedarnath Temple is also part of the Panch Kedar circuit and was made to mark the place where Lord Shiva manifested in his bull form. Lastly, the Badrinath Temple that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is said to have been built by the Hindu scholar, Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century.
The 4 dham Temples face heavy snowfall during the winter due to which they remain closed for the season. The closing and opening dates of the 4 Dham Temples for 2024 therefore are as follows:
With the temple located very close to the Yamunotri Glacier, the Temple finds itself facing extreme temperatures and witnessing heavy snowfall during the winter season, due to which the temple remains closed during winters and open between the months of May and October. The temple opens on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and in 2024 the Yamunotri Temple will remain open for visitors from 10th May 2024.
A temple of the Garhwal Himalayas, located in close proximity to the Gangotri glacier itself, the temple is prone to heavy snowfall during winters when the temple closes its door for visitors, opening up between the months of May to November and becoming accessible to the devotees. The temple opens on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and in 2024 the Gangotri is set to open from 10th May 2024.
One of the twelve jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kedarnath Temple is another one of the important temples to be visited during the Chardham Yatra. Located at a high altitude among the Himalayas, the temple gets covered in a thick blanket of snow in the winters and remains closed. In 2024, the Kedarnath Temple will be accessible to devotees for visits from 10 May 2024.
The Badrinath or the Badrinarayan Temple at Uttarakhand is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is the last temple that is covered during the CharDham Yatra. The temple is located along the banks of the Alakananda River with the mighty Himalayas in the background. Due to extreme weather conditions of the region during winter, the temple remains closed for the season. In 2024, the Badrinath Temple will open from 12th May 2024.
The route that will be followed during the 4 dham Yatra is given below. The pilgrimage tour will begin from the capital city of Delhi and then proceed onwards.
The pilgrimage tour of the 4 Dham will begin from the capital city of Delhi which can be reach easily via different means of transport, such as buses, trains, and flights, since the city is well connected to the rest of the country with bus stations, railway stations, and airports, that operate buses, trains, and flights from different parts of the country at frequent intervals.
From Delhi, the tour will then move to the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand, the first day. The city will be reached through a drive of around 6 hours that will cover a distance of 205 km. Haridwar, with the name translating to “gateway to the gods”, is dotted with numerous temples, shrines, and holy ghats, with it also being the site for the holy gathering of the Kumbh Mela.
Onwards from Haridwar, the tour will proceed to Barkot in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, on the second day, taking us even closer to the revered temples of the Chardham. From Haridwar, the drive to Barkot will cover a distance of 215 km over a period of 5 to 6 hours. Barkot, located in the Garhwal Himalayas, provides mesmerizing views of the Bandarpunch peak and is known for being a trekking paradise.
The third day the tour will proceed to the Yamunotri Temple, the first temple of the 4 dham. The drive will begin from Barkot reaching Yamunotri, and then will take you back to Barkot, all covering a distance of 42 kms, with a 6 km trek. The Yamunotri Temple, dedicated to Goddess Yamuna is located at a height of 10,804 ft. and has the Surya Kund, a natural hot spring.
From Barkot, it is the fourth day when the tour will move on to reach Uttarkashi with a drive of 4 hours covering a distance of 82 kms. Another spiritual destination in the land of the gods, Uttarakhand, the town of Uttarkashi is a sacred one with numerous temples and shrines dotted along its landscape with it also being home to the popular Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The tour will then proceed to the second temple of the 4 dham Yatra, the Gangotri temple with a drive from Uttarkashi, covering a distance of 100 km one way, and then back to the town, after visiting the holy temple. Gangotri Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga and the holy River Ganga, the most sacred river in Hinduism with the source of the river also located nearby the temple.
The next day from Uttarkashi, the 4dham Yatra tour will move on to Guptkashi at a distance of 223 km, and will take around a total of 9 to 10 hours to complete. With the backdrop of the Chaukhamba, Deo Tibba, Nanda Devi, and Panchachuli peaks, Guptkashi is truly a paradise that can be seen blanketed with a bed of flowers during the summer months, and houses numerous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
From Guptkashi, it's time to proceed to the next hallowed pilgrimage site of the 4 dham Yatra, the Kedarnath Temple. The temple is at a distance of 32 kms from Guptkashi and involves a further trek of 14 kms to reach the top. Kedarnath is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, or highly sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Closed during the winters due to high snowfall, the temple otherwise remains open for the devotees.
After visiting the beautiful temple of Kedarnath, it is now time to carry forward to Chopta via the pilgrimage site of Gaurikund. The journey involves a 14 kms trek with a 90 kms drive to reach Chopta. Gaurikund is known for its Gaurikund temple which is dedicated to worship Goddess Parvati. From Gaurikund, the next stop is Chopta, which is most known for its scenic beauty, often being compared to that of Switzerland.
After bidding farewell to Chopta, the tour then proceeds with the next destination, to the last temple of the 4 Dham, the Badrinath Temple. From Chopta, the temple can be reached with a drive of 6 to 7 hours covering a distance of 160 kms. Badrinath Temple worships its presiding deity of Lord Vishnu. Built in the 9th century, the temple is said to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya.
From Badrinath, the tour will proceed to reach Rudraprayag at a distance of 160 kms which it will cover in 6 to 7 hours. This holy town of Uttarakhand is named after the Rudra avatar of Lord Shiva, and is also known for being situated at the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. Being of such religious importance, Rudraprayag has numerous temples and shrines to visit.
From Rudraprayag, the tour will move to Haridwar via Rishikesh. Rishikesh, with the number of yoga and meditation centers within, is also referred to as the 'Yoga Capital of the World'. With the Himalayas and the River Ganga flowing through it, Rishikesh is a peaceful destination. At a total distance of 155 kms from Rudraprayag, the tour will terminate at Delhi, covering a span of 11 days for the Yatra.
The holy 4 Dham Yatra is one of the major pilgrimage tours undertaken by the Hindu devotees who wish to visit the sacred temples of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, located in the region of the Garhwal Himalayas. Each of these temples are based at high altitudes and therefore traversing through them will require a good amount of walking and climbing, for which one should be prepared for. Make sure to take precautions against the cold weather and altitude sickness as well.
Registering for the Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri Yatra can now be done through multiple ways which are given as follows:
Being located at such a height, pilgrims can choose to travel to the 4 Dham temples with the help of helicopters. Bookings for these helicopters can be done through private and government agencies.
Given the amount of devotees that the region sees each year, numerous hotels have come up to accommodate the needs of the visitors for a comfortable stay. The districts of Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli, all have abundant hotels that can be booked during the Chardham Yatra, but it is essential that you book them way in advance so that you can get the accommodation as per your requirements, since the yatra season sees plenty of crowd. The hotels in the region have varying budgets according to your preferences and budgets and include luxury, deluxe, and standard hotels.
Deciding to travel through the pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand, it is necessary that essential health precautions are taken care of by the pilgrims for their safety. The temples, based at such high altitude, require proper acclimatization by spending a few days in the region before beginning the yatra. The pilgrims are also advised to carry sufficient woolen clothing and required medicines for the duration of the tour. Pilgrims traveling to the temples can be faced with extreme changes in temperature along with low air pressure and low oxygen. Along with this pilgrims traveling to the Badrinath, Kedanath, Gangotri & Yamunotri are also required to follow a fitness regimen that will allow for a smoother travel, given the distances that may need some amount of walking and climbing on the terrains of the region.
Located in Rudraprayag and part of the Panch Kedar Temples, the Tungnath Temple lying at a height of more than 12,000 ft. is among the highest Shiva temples.
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Another temple that forms the Panch Kedar, this beautiful Shiva Temple in the Garhwal Himalayas is where the face of Lord Shiva manifested in his bull form.
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It is here where the navel of the bull form of Lord Shiva was seen when he transformed to escape the Pandavas, hence forming a temple of the Panch Kedar.
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Forming one of the Shakti Peethas of the country, the Kalimath Temple is dedicated to worshiping the Goddess Kali, the mother goddess of doomsday, time, and death.
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A beautiful temple at Ukhimath, the deities from Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are brought here for worship during the harsh winters, when those temples remain closed due to snow.
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Another one of the beautiful temples of the Garhwal Himalayan regions, it is here at the Triyuginarayan Temple that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are said to have been married.
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Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is located along the Alaknanda River and is said to have been the place where he meditated while on his way to Kedarnath.
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This temple worships an incarnation of Goddess Kali- Dhari Devi. The deity and her idol at the temple are the site for mysterious legends and stories that make this temple a must visit.
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The beautiful town of Devprayag is where the rivers Alaknanda, and Bhagirathi merge to become the River Ganga, and the place where Lord Rama and King Dashratha meditated at one point.
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A popular pilgrimage city, Rishikesh is known for its centers of yoga and meditation, offering a sense of peace and calm while being set against the Himalayas and River Ganga.
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With a blanket of multiple species of exotic flowers, the Valley of Flowers is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a site for sore eyes.
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Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib or Hemkunt Sahib is a place of worship for Sikhs and is considered the highest Gurudwara in the world for being located at such a high altitude!
Read MoreThe most convenient route to reach the temples of CharDham is from Delhi as the starting point. The routes to be followed from Delhi include:
Each temple of the 4 Dham is dedicated to the worship of a different deity. The Yamunotri Temple worships Goddess Yamuna, Gangotri Temple worships Goddess Ganga, Kedarnath has Lord Shiva as the presiding deity, and Badrinath worships Lord Vishnu.
The 4 Dham Yatra needs to be done in the proper manner beginning with a visit to the Yamunotri Temple, onwards to Gangotri Temple, Kedarnath, and visiting the Badrinath Temple at the last.
When we say CharDham, we usually mean four pilgrimage sites that were established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD. These are Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram. However, there is another pilgrimage circuit consisting of four sites, all of which are as ancient and revered as the ones mentioned above. Located in Uttarakhand, these are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. A devotee is required to visit all of these 4 Dham temples in the Garhwal Himalayas during the 4 Dham Pilgrimage Tour. All of these temples are located in the Garhwal region. While Yamunotri and Gangtori are located in the Uttarkashi district, Kedarnath and Badrinath are located in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts respectively.
Just like every year, 4 Dhams Yatra 2024 will also be attended by a large number of devotees, for whom it will be both an uplifting and spiritual experience. Besides the 4 Dham Yatra, devotees will also revel in the beauty of the landscape.
The doors of the 4 Dhams open in the month of April/May and close in October/November every year. Here are the opening and closing dates of these shrines for the year 2024.
| Temple Name | Opening Date | Closing Date/Month |
|---|---|---|
| Gangotri Dham | 10 May 2024 | October |
| Yamunotri Dham | 10 May 2024 | October |
| Kedarnath Dham | 10 May 2024 | October |
| Badrinath Dham | 12 May 2024 | November |
The opening, arti and closing timings of the kapat (temple doors) of Yamunotri Temple, Gangotri Temple, Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple are given below. It should be remembered that the timings for the 4 Dham Temple Darshan vary from one to the other.
Although all the 4 Dham Temples can be reached via flight, train and road, the distances between the airports or railway stations and the temples are quite considerable. Helicopter services are also available for those who cannot take a long journey.
Gangotri is well connected by motorable roads to all the other parts of Uttarakhand. It is situated at the end of NH 108. But to reach Gangotri, you will have to reach Rishikesh first. Buses for it are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate (if you are in Delhi). After reaching Rishikesh, you will have to catch another bus or hire a taxi to reach Gangotri.
Kedarnath cannot be reached by a motorable road. The last point which can be reached by bus or taxi is Gaurikund, from where you will have to take a trek of almost 14km. Buses and taxis to Gaurikund are available from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Srinagar. Gaurikund lies on NH 109. Badrinath is well connected by motorable roads along with other parts of Uttarakhand. You can hire buses from ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Rudraprayag, Pauri, Rishikesh, Karnaprayag, Ukhimath, Srinagar and Chamoli, to name a few places. Badrinath is connected to Ghaziabad via NH 58.
