Yamunotri Temple - The World of Immense Spirituality
The Yamuna, one of the two holiest rivers in India is known for its huge religious significance hence, Yamunotri, an eminent pilgrimage devoted to Goddess Ganga attracts millions of tourists towards itself every year as it is believed that taking a holy bath into this divine river cleanses your sins and also protect you from an unnatural and untimely death. The pilgrimage being an important part of Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand plays an impressive role in enhancing the charm and glory of North India. One of the most impressive and striking features of this holy site is its incredible location as the destination is nestled beautifully amidst the enormous mountain peaks, glaciers, and can enjoy listening to the soul-soothing sound of the gushing water of River Yamuna.
Mythology about Yamunotri Dham
The temple has been devoted to Goddess Yamuna, the second holiest river of India and the twin sister of Lord Yama (the god of death) and the daughter of god Sun. Goddess Yamuna in Vedas has been represented as Yami, the lady of life, and it is believed that the deity has been named so by an angry Lord Surya who felt insulted when Goddess Sandhya couldn’t find him in the eye because of his immense dazzling light. She started flickering her eyes while looking straight to open her eyes in front of Lord Sun and Goddess Sandhya had helped her in opening eyes. Sun god blessed the deity that she would be remembered eternally and the deity also inherited the frivolous nature through this incident.
One of the most important legends behind the origin of this shrine states that the great sage Asti Muni resided as a hermit in the Yamunotri region. It is said that the saint bathed at Yamuna and Ganga rivers throughout his life but as he grew old, he couldn’t move to Gangotri. Hence, River Ganga divided herself into a stream opposite to River Yamuna as the deity wanted to resolve his interrupted ritual.
Another exciting legend states that it is the same river and place where Lord Hanuman after burning Lanka came to put off the fire of his tail in River Yamuna at Bandarpoonch and this is why the peak has been named so i.e. Bander (Monkey) and Poonch means tail.
Location of Yamunotri Temple
This holy shrine of Goddess Yamuna is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and on the western side of the great Himalayas. Tucked at a great altitude of almost 3293 meters above the sea level, Yamunotri Dham is, however, difficult and pretty challenging to explore but the unflinching faith of the devotees motivate them to reach here. The pilgrimage is encircled by lofty mountains on all sides and lies in a close proximity to the Indo-China border and is nationwide popular for offering immense peace and tranquility to the travelers.
The pilgrimage is situated at a distance of almost 236 km from Rishikesh, 278 km from Dehradun, 21 km from Sanya Chatti, and 176 km from Chamba.
Significance of Yamunotri Dham
It is the first stopover of Char Dham Yatra circuit where tourists from different corners of the world flock to pay their homage to the deity and seek her blessings for lifelong prosperity, health, and wealth. Likewise other pilgrimages of this holy circuit, Yamunotri is also popular for its interesting mythological tales and it is believed that the goddess is the daughter of the Sun god and sister of Lord Yama and hence in Vedas, Yamuna is called as Yami (the lady of life). There is a belief among Hindus that bathing in the sacred water of River Yamuna purifies your heart and cleanse all your committed sins. Also, the deity is believed to be the protector of your life and protects you from an untimely and unnatural death.
The architecture of Yamunotri Temple
The temple is believed to be have been constructed in the 19th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur who was a true devotee of the deity. Once you set your feet in the temple, you will get to see the black marbled idol of the goddess adorned with garlands. After completing your puja rituals when you come out of the shrine you will get to explore the hot water spring flowing out of the mountain cavities and Surya Kund is the most sought and popular thermal spring in the region. Next comes Divya Shila, a huge mountain rock which is to be worshipped before you enter into the temple and to pay offering to the goddess, the devotees prepare rice and potatoes in this Surya Kund by draping them in the muslin cloth and dipping in the hot water spring.
Traveling Tips to Yamunotri
As you are exploring an annual pilgrimage, so one needs to be properly prepared before they embark on this holy yatra especially if they are visiting here for the very first time. Check out few of the must-follow tips mentioned below.
- Maintain the decorum and the divinity of the shrine by refraining yourself from consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food items as you are visiting an immensely sacred site.
- As the shrine is nestled at a huge elevation of 3200 meters above the sea level, so the weather at Yamunotri remains cool even during the summer season so it is advised to pack woolens in your baggage.
- Those who are traveling to this pace must inquire about the climatic conditions and the road conditions before leaving home and this is mandatory to be done in the monsoon months if you want to make it a successful journey.
- It is very obvious that if you are visiting to a new place then you would love to collect few pictures of the place as a remembrance but photography inside the temple is prohibited so you are requested to follow the guidelines strictly.
- One who is traveling to this hugely elevated pilgrimage must get their biometrics done before they embark on their trip to Yamunotri temple. This registration process is both online and offline available and if you are not done with the registration process then you won’t be allowed to cover this spiritual yatra.
- You are going to face network issues in the region and only a few mobile networks work smoothly and BSNL is one of the best networks that you can consider for this tour.
Activities To Get Indulged In:
Spirituality: The destination holds a significant place in Hinduism as this is the place where you can seek the blessings of Goddess Yamuna at the Yamunotri Temple, can take a holy dip into the Surya Kund, and praying at Divya Shila adds more glory to its spiritual significance.
Village Tourism: If you are a village lover and want to enjoy village life then Gangotri is a must-visit place as here you can interact with the villagers residing in the nearby villages and can also know about their lifestyle, culture, and many more.
Photography: Besides being reckoned for its spiritual significance, Yamunotri is believed to be an ideal destination for photogenic. The wild flora, fauna, and the white thick sheets of snow is something that one must not miss capturing in their cameras.
Camping: If you are also an adventure enthusiast and want to enjoy camping under the starry sky then there is no other better place than Yamunotri and the region is also a good option for nature lovers too.
Trekking: The trekking trail that takes you to Yamunotri from Jankichatti is a short yet challenging one where you can feel the essence of being encircled by the great Himalayas and the wonders of nature as you drive towards Yamunotri.
Places To Visit In And Around Yamunotri
Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri Temple, one of the most sacred destinations in Uttarakhand where travelers from all around the world flock to seek the blessings of River Yamuna and to cleanse away all their committed sins. Visiting this holy shrine and paying offerings to the deity prevents them from an untimely and unnatural death. Besides being famous for its religious significance, Yamunotri Dham is also popular for its incredible scenic vistas as the temple is encircled by the huge mountain peaks, surreal glaciers, and the gorgeously flowing River Yamuna adds more charm to this place.
Janki Chatti
Popular for its hot thermal water springs and trekking, Janki Chatti is an unmatched travel destination where you can feel a perfect blend of devotional and relaxing moments. So, make the most of hot water swimming and trekking while exploring this wonderful religious site. Also, if you are a foodie person then you can enjoy both Garhwali and Kumaoni cuisines including chainsoo, Aloo Ke Gutke, Kaapa, and Gahat. Do not forget to carry woolens in good quantity and medicines for common illness as altitude sickness may come handy.
However, the list of nearby travel destinations to Yamunotri doesn’t end here as the destination is bestowed with a cluster of impressive holiday sites but is not easy to compile them all together. If you like this Yamunotri travel guide then do share it with your friends, family, and other known ones so that they can also plan their trip to Yamunotri in a smoother way. Also, if you feel like something has been missed out in this article or you want some more information then do write it down in the comment box below.
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