The Yamunotri trek is a 6 km walk from Janki Chatti, the last motorable point, to the temple of Yamunotri Dham at 3,293 metres in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Most pilgrims need half a day or more for the round trip once darshan and rest stops are added.
Among the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand, Yamunotri is revered as the origin of the holy river Yamuna and is the first stop of the Char Dham Yatra circuit. The trail climbs through forest and past waterfalls in the Yamuna valley.
In 2026, the Yamunotri Temple opened on 19 April (Akshaya Tritiya). Char Dham Yatra Registration is mandatory for all pilgrims, so register at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in before you leave home.
| Detail | 2026 information | Source |
| Yamunotri altitude | 3,293 m (10,804 ft) | Uttarkashi District Administration; Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
| Trek start | Janki Chatti, the last motorable point | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
| Trek distance | About 6 km one way, 12 km round trip | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
| Janki Chatti altitude | About 2,650 m (height gain roughly 650 m) | Secondary travel sources |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Our assessment |
| Uphill time | Official estimate 2 to 3 hours; allow 3 to 5 hours with stops and crowds | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal; our advice |
| Temple opened | 19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya) | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
| Temple closing | Expected around Bhai Dooj (11 November 2026); confirm officially | Announced on Dussehra each year |
| Darshan and aarti timings | Not yet published for 2026; confirm locally | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
| Registration | Mandatory and free | Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal |
According to Hindu mythology, the Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and twin sister of Yamraj, the god of death. A bath in her waters is believed to wash away sins and free the soul from the fear of death.
The Yamunotri temple was built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal, according to the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee. Floods and earthquakes have damaged it more than once. Some accounts credit Maharani Gularia of Jaipur with a later reconstruction. Inside is a black marble idol of Goddess Yamuna.
The temple is where the Yamuna is worshipped at her origin. The river’s actual glacial source lies higher up on Kalind Parvat, at about 4,421 m. Pilgrims traditionally begin the Char Dham Yatra here, then continue to Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Go in May to June or September to October. Those are the months when the trail is open, services run and rain is least likely to cut the road.
May and June bring the biggest crowds, and the trail is packed by mid-morning. September and October are quieter, and after the monsoon the air is usually clearer. Weather still changes fast at this height, so pack for cold and rain in any month.
July and August are hard months. Heavy rain makes the trail slippery and landslides can block the highway, as happened near Syanachatti in July 2026. Travel then only after checking official advisories. In November the temple closes around Bhai Dooj and the deity moves to Kharsali village for the winter.
Every route ends at Janki Chatti. Most pilgrims drive from Dehradun or Rishikesh and stay the night at Barkot or Janki Chatti before the trek.
From metropolitan cities, take a private or government bus to Dehradun or Rishikesh, then a taxi or shared jeep to Janki Chatti. Distances below are approximate and change with the route taken and road conditions.
From Delhi the road distance is roughly 400 to 450 km depending on the route, so break the journey overnight. Barkot is about 45 to 50 km before Janki Chatti. Taxis fill up in May and June, so book your onward vehicle early.
Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar are the railheads. Dehradun is the closest, about 180 km from Janki Chatti. From any of them, hire a taxi or take a shared jeep to Barkot and on to Janki Chatti.
Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport. From there, hire a taxi to Barkot and Janki Chatti.
The Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal lists chartered helicopter services from Dehradun for Yamunotri, and states that heli services can be booked only through IRCTC (heliyatra.irctc.co.in). Availability depends on operator schedules and weather, so confirm the current service before planning around it. A helicopter cuts out the long drive, but you still walk, ride or take a palki from the landing area to the temple. Never pay for a heli ticket through a WhatsApp link or a personal UPI ID.
The Yamunotri trek is moderate, and it gets harder as you go. The first part out of Janki Chatti is a gradual climb on a well-defined path, with cemented steps and railings in the early sections.
The last stretch to the temple is the steepest. Stone steps and a sharp gain in height make this the point where most pilgrims slow right down. You don’t need trekking experience. Fitness and a steady pace matter far more.
For senior citizens, children, or anyone with knee problems or a heart condition, book a pony, palki or kandi at the prepaid counter in Janki Chatti. It is the sensible choice on this climb, and the darshan at the top is the same however you get there.
The trek starts at Janki Chatti and climbs along the Yamuna to the temple. The path is paved, with stone steps on the steeper parts, and tea stalls and small dhabas along the way.
Hanuman Chatti and Phool Chatti are on the road before Janki Chatti, not on the walking trail. Older guides describe a 13 km trek from Hanuman Chatti because the walk used to start there, before the road was extended to Janki Chatti.
Pony, palki and kandi services start from the prepaid counter at Janki Chatti. The local administration revises the rates, and figures quoted online for 2026 don’t agree with each other. The rate printed on your counter slip is the one that counts. Book only at the counter, keep the receipt, and ignore touts standing outside.
Historical reference only, not 2026 rates: in 2023, Zila Panchayat Uttarkashi fixed round-trip fares of ₹2,500 for a horse or mule and ₹8,000 for a dandi or kandi. In May 2024, a District Magistrate order capped horses and mules at 800 a day (4 AM to 5 PM) and dandis at 300 a day (4 AM to 4 PM). The 2026 limits may differ, so confirm at the counter.
The temple enshrines a black marble idol of Maa Yamuna and is the first Dham of the Char Dham circuit. The official portal has not yet published 2026 darshan or aarti timings, so ask at Janki Chatti or your hotel on the evening before the trek.
Surya Kund is a natural hot spring beside the temple. Its water is hot enough to cook in. Pilgrims tie rice or potatoes in muslin cloth, dip them in the kund and take the cooked food home as prasad. Keep children well back from the edge.
Divya Shila is a sacred rock pillar near Surya Kund. Pilgrims worship it before offering puja to the deity, so stop here first.
Hanuman Chatti is a village on the road below Janki Chatti, where the Hanuman Ganga meets the Yamuna. It is the base for the Dodital and Darwa Top treks.
Most of this list matters because of two things: cold mornings at 3,000 m and a steep final climb.
Janki Chatti has the most places to stay on the route, including guesthouses, basic hotels and the GMVN Tourist Rest House. Sleep here the night before and you can start at dawn. Driving up from Barkot on trek morning means a much later start.
Near the temple there are only a few basic guesthouses and dharamshalas. Barkot, about 45 to 50 km before Janki Chatti, has more hotels and suits pilgrims who want a more comfortable base. Book both well ahead for May and June.
Dhabas along the trail serve tea and simple meals such as rajma chawal, dal roti and Maggi. Carry snacks anyway, because stalls may still be shut at 5 AM. Follow local temple and administration rules on food, alcohol and tobacco.
Register before you leave. Sleep at Janki Chatti the night before, start by 6:00 AM, and carry warm layers whatever the month. Do those things and the 6 km climb to Yamunotri is well within reach for most pilgrims, on foot or by pony.
About 6 km one way from Janki Chatti, or 12 km round trip. The official portal estimates 2 to 3 hours uphill; with stops and crowds, most pilgrims should allow 3 to 5.
It is moderate. The early part from Janki Chatti is a gradual climb and the final stretch to the temple is the steepest. Ponies, kandis and palkis are available at Janki Chatti.
Yes. Most senior citizens do it by pony, kandi or palki booked at the Janki Chatti prepaid counter.
May to June or September to October. July and August bring heavy rain and landslides, so check official advisories before travelling then.
Conditions depend on weather, the state of the trail, crowds and your own fitness. Check advisories, start early, and take a pony or palki if the climb is too much.
The Uttarkashi district Char Dham Yatra page lists health facilities and emergency contacts for the route. Dial 108 for an ambulance, and carry your own medicines.
The official portal says 2026 darshan and aarti timings will be announced. Confirm the day’s timings at Janki Chatti before you start.
It opened on 19 April 2026. Closing is expected around Bhai Dooj (11 November 2026); the final date is announced on Dussehra, after which the idol moves to Kharsali.
Yes, and it is free. Register on the official portal, the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, WhatsApp (8394833833) or at a registration centre, using Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or passport.
The administration revises them and online figures conflict. Check the rate chart at the Janki Chatti prepaid counter and keep your receipt.
The official portal lists chartered services from Dehradun and says heli bookings are made only through IRCTC. Confirm availability before you plan around it.
Janki Chatti is the best base, with guesthouses and a GMVN Tourist Rest House. Barkot, about 45 to 50 km away, has more hotels.
Check out: Yamunotri Yatra Tour Packages
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