Usually the first stop on the Char Dham pilgrimage is Yamunotri, the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River, which originates from the Champasar Glacier, located at an altitude of 4321 meters above sea level, some 1 km ahead of the Yamunotri shrine.
The Yamunotri shrine is believed to have been built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the late 19th century. However the temple was destroyed in 1923 and only the idols remained intact. The temple was rebuilt but was damaged again in 1982.
A unique feature of Yamunotri shrine is the way the prasad is prepared. Raw rice and potatoes are tied in cloth bags and then cooked by dipping them in a hot water pool situated near the shrine.
Areas of Interest Lakhamandal - Lying on the Mussoorie - Yammnotri road, some 75 km from Kempty Falls is Lakhamandal. According to legend the Kaurvas made a shelter house where they conspired to burn the Pandavas alive.
Surya Kund - A popular thermal spring where the water temperature goes as high as 190 degrees fahrenheit. The spring is used to cook prasada to offer at the shrine.
Divya Shila - This huge pillar is made of rock and devotees throng to it praying before it, prior to entering the Yamunotri temple.
Yamunotri is easily accessible by road from Rishikesh, Dehradun and Saharanpur. Rishikesh is connected to Yamunotri by a regular bus service. The nearest railway stations are at Haridwar and Dehradun while the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. The best season to visit Yamunotri is from May to June and from September to October.
