Yamunotri

Yamunotri is a city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Get in

Railway connectivity only up to Rishikesh. After that you have to use either private taxis or buses plying on the route. You will also find shared jeeps or similar vehicles from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Get sensible and hire a personal taxi. Avoid small cars as it is rough terrain. Settle for either a SUV or MUV like Innova, Tavera, Qualis, Scorpio etc. See if you can get hold of a Hummer.

It is advisable to travel during the pre- and post- monsoon seasons.

Get around

Not much local transport is available, as these places are open for only 6 months a year, from mid-May to Diwali in November. Once you are in Janaki Chatti, the last stop reachable by motor, you can use ponies or small palanquins for the trek up to the temple, which nestles in the bosom of the mighty Himalayas. You can finish the climb by foot, but it can prove to be tough for those who are not in the best of health. Avoid the ponies as they are responsible for a lot of avoidable filth on the entire stretch.

See

Various waterfalls on the trek to the temple. Hot sulphur springs. If one has the resources like porters, mountaineering gear food, tent etc then one can also trek further up to Saptarishi. Mind you it is a very treacherous trek.

Do

The destination of all pilgrims is usually to bathe in the icy waters of Goddess Yamuna before having a darshan of the black idol of the Goddess herself in the main sanctum sanctorum. People usually have a dip in the taptkund adjacent to the temple before having a glimpse of the deity. The taptkund (natural hot sulphur springs) are believed to have numerous medicinal properties. Some devotees however venture out to the river below to bath in its icy waters. Various Hindu texts extol the virtues of bathing in the Yamuna as a means of absolving sins that would lead to an afterlife in Hell.

Buy

Holy texts, idols, pictures of the temple and the deity (the original picture is not available anywhere as photography is strictly prohibited inside the sanctum sanctorum), beads etc. You won't find anything fancy in these places as the trip to these places is made not indulge in luxury but in natural bliss.

Eat

Satvik food devoid of any onion or garlic. The restaurant at the end of the row of hotels near the parking lot (on the right hand sideof the road) serves delicious food. You will also find food of average quality during the trek to the temple.

Drink

It is recommended that you fill your bottles with natural spring water available free of cost while traveling to Yamunotri. During trekking you won't find any dearth of local taps en route. But it is advisable to fill your bottles with water from your starting point of the trek. Once you reach the temple, descend down to bank and have your heart's fill of the pure glacier waters of Yamuna. The intoxication and satisfaction is indescribable.

Sleep

Numerous dharamshalas and hotels are available as well as the GMVNL guesthouses. However during the peak seasons of summer they demand exhorbitant rates. The off-season rates are very reasonable.