Gangotri, Yamunotri - Gateway to the Himalayan Char Dham

Gangotri and Yamunotri are of immense religious importance to the Hindu worshippers, Yamunotri being the gateway to the Himalayan Char Dham Yatra. Gangotri is a holy town along the Bhagirathi River and lies in the Greater Himalayan region. It is believed to be the origin of the Holy Ganges and is situated at an altitude of 3100 meters above sea level. Bhagirathi is the source while from Devprayag, it is known as Ganga. Gaumukh is the place of origination that is fed by the Gangotri glacier. The trek to Gangotri is around 19 km from Gaumukh. It is also a day's travel from Haridwar via Rishikesh or Dehradun.

At the Gangotri Temple, Goddess Ganga is the principal deity and the evening prayer is a beautiful sight. The idol is moved to the nearby Mukhba village during the winter months. Gangotri town also forms a base for trekkers and devotees traveling to Tapovan, Gaumukh and Kedartal.

Gangotri Background

According to legends, King Bhagiratha and his 60,000 sons attacked the ashram of sage Kapil. They all perished after the sage cursed them. King Bhagiratha then prayed for the salvation of his sons' souls and Goddess Ganga relieved King Bhagiratha of his sins.

Yamunotri Yatra

Just as Gangotri is the origin of River Ganga, Yamunotri is the point of origination of the Yamuna. In the Garhwal range of the Himalayas and at a height of 3293 meters, Yamunotri shrine is the main attraction. It is the temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. Situated at the western most tip of the Garhwal range, the Bandar Poonch Parvat forms the main backdrop.

The melting Champasar Glacier at Kalind Mountain is the source of the Yamuna River but the place being inaccessible, the shrine is situated at the foothills. The temple priests belong to the Kharsali village.

Yamunotri- mythological references

According to Hindu legends, sage Asit Muni lived here and bathed in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers but in his old age, he was unable to travel for bathing and the two rivers appeared as streams nearby.

Places to see in and around Gangotri Yamunotri
Yamunotri Temple - The Yamtotri Temple shrine in Yamunotri is situated in the Uttarkashi district and a day's journey from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Maharani Guleria constructed the original temple in the 19th century but it was destroyed; sources reveal that reconstruction was commissioned by the Raja of Tehri Garhwal, Pratap Shah. The priests who belong only to the Uniyal family perform pujas here.

Hot water springs - There are a number of hot water springs around the Yamunotri shine, known as kund. The Surya Kund, dedicated to the sun God is the most popular of them. Devotees dip cooked rice and potatoes in the holy kunds before offering it to the temple deity. They later take it back as prasadam (blessings) Janki Chatti (7 km) - Janki Chatti village is a trek of 7 km from the Yamonotri shrine. The temple priests and pilgrims travel from this village. There are also horses and palanquins available. If you trek from the nearby Hanuman Chatti, you will come across small lakes and waterfalls fed by the glaciers in the summer months.

Tourist information
Both Gangotri and Yamunotri temples open on the day of Akshaya Tritiya and closes on Diwali. There are only few ashrams and small hotels offering accommodation.