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Yamunotri in December
Uttarakhand, India
December: deep winter. Yamunotri at 3,293m is under heavy snow. The temple is sealed. The hot springs are buried. The Yamuna at its source runs under ice. The entire Yamunotri complex will not reopen until May. Plan accordingly โ the temple opening date is usually announced in March-April.
The December story
December: deep winter closure. Yamunotri under heavy snow is invisible, inaccessible, and perfect in its absence. The temple will reopen in May. The hot springs will be there. The Yamuna will continue flowing from glacier to gorge to plains to ocean, whether or not anyone treks to see its birth. December is for planning: if the Char Dham circuit is your goal, book May-June for maximum temple access and comfortable conditions, or late September-October for fewer crowds and autumn beauty. The Yamunotri leg is typically Day 1-2 of the circuit. Physical preparation: start cardio training 8 weeks before the trek. The 6km uphill at altitude is moderate but shouldn't be underestimated. The reward โ hot springs at the source of the Yamuna โ is unlike anything else in the Char Dham.
Why December scores 0/5
Weather
Temple closed. Deep snow. Trail buried. Janki Chatti base quiet. Winter worship continues at Kharsali village only.
Roads & Access
self drive: Possible to Janki Chatti. Then must trek. road condition: Mountain road to Janki Chatti โ narrow, landslide-prone. Then 6km trek. public transport: Buses from Dehradun/Rishikesh to Hanuman Chatti. Shared taxis to Janki Chatti. Palki/pony for trek. from nearest city: Dehradun โ 230km, 9hr to Janki Chatti. Barkot โ 50km, 2.5hr. last km difficulty: extreme
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 2/5. rescue: SDRF Uttarakhand, ITBP โ helicopter in extreme cases. helpline: 100, 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Temple committee pony/stretcher. No motorized ambulance on trek. police station: Janki Chatti outpost โ seasonal. nearest hospital: PHC at Janki Chatti โ first aid only. Barkot CHC โ 36km. Dehradun โ 230km for serious cases
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL only at Janki Chatti โ very patchy. NO signal on trek route or at temple
Kids
Not ideal for kids โ Pilgrimage significance for Hindu families
Elevation
3,293m โ Moderate altitude
Who should go
- โTravelers with basic fitness
- โNobody โ deep winter, temple sealed until May
Who should think twice
- โThose with mobility issues
- โEveryone โ deep winter, no access until May
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Temple closed. Extreme snow at 3,300m. Trail from Janki Chatti buried. Idol shifted to Kharsali for winter worship. |
| February | 0/5 | Temple closed, snowbound. Deepest snow of the year. Trail impassable. Village Kharsali hosts winter puja ceremonies. |
| March | 0/5 | Temple closed. Snow melting slowly at lower elevations. Trail still buried. Opening depends on weather โ usually late April. |
| April | 1/5 | Temple may open late April (Akshaya Tritiya). 2-12ยฐC. Trail clearing. Early pilgrims if road opens. Snowpatches remain. |
| May | 5/5 | Temple open, best weather 8-20ยฐC. Char Dham season peak. 6km trek from Janki Chatti comfortable. Hot springs at temple. |
| June | 4/5 | Full season 10-22ยฐC. Temple busy with Char Dham pilgrims. Trek trail in good condition. Hot springs popular. Book ponies. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon rain makes 6km trek trail slippery and dangerous. Landslides block Janki Chatti road. River in spate. Risky. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Trek trail waterlogged. Multiple landslides on approach road. Temple accessible but journey dangerous. Avoid. |
| September | 3/5 | Monsoon clearing 6-16ยฐC. Autumn trek window. Trail drying. Temple still open. Fewer pilgrims. Peaceful darshan. |
| October | 4/5 | Last month before closure 4-12ยฐC. Temple closing ceremony (Yama Dwitiya). Autumn colors on trail. Final pilgrims. |
| November | 0/5 | Temple closed for winter. Idol shifted to Kharsali. Snow arriving. Trail shutting down. 6-month closure begins. |
| Decemberviewing | 0/5 | Temple closed. Deep snow. Trail buried. Janki Chatti base quiet. Winter worship continues at Kharsali village only. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Dehradun โ 230km, 9hr to Janki Chatti. Barkot โ 50km, 2.5hr. Roads: Mountain road to Janki Chatti โ narrow, landslide-prone. Then 6km trek. Self-drive: Possible to Janki Chatti. Then must trek. Public transport: Buses from Dehradun/Rishikesh to Hanuman Chatti. Shared taxis to Janki Chatti. Palki/pony for trek. Last stretch: extreme
Elevation
3,293m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in December
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