No Data
Yamunotri in November
Uttarakhand, India
November: Yamunotri is closed or closing. The temple has been sealed for winter. Snow arrives. The trek route becomes impassable. The hot springs, inaccessible now, continue their underground work. The deity is at Kharsali for the next five months. Yamunotri enters its winter sleep.
The November story
November Yamunotri is closed. The temple is sealed. The deity is at Kharsali, where the winter worship will continue in the village temple. Snow falls on the abandoned temple compound. The hot springs, inaccessible now, continue boiling under snow โ the geological indifference to human seasons is almost philosophical. Janki Chatti may still be reachable for the curious, but there's nothing at the top: no temple, no services, no trail. The Yamuna at its source runs under ice. November is for reflection on what Yamunotri represents: the beginning of India's second-holiest river, emerging from ice and volcanic heat, in a gorge that closes every winter. The cyclical nature of the pilgrimage โ opening, closing, opening โ mirrors the river's own eternal renewal.
Why November scores 0/5
Weather
Temple closed for winter. Idol shifted to Kharsali. Snow arriving. Trail shutting down. 6-month closure begins.
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 temple closed for winter
Who should think twice
- โThose with mobility issues
- โEveryone โ temple closed, trail closing or closed
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. |
| Novemberviewing | 0/5 | Temple closed for winter. Idol shifted to Kharsali. Snow arriving. Trail shutting down. 6-month closure begins. |
| December | 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 November
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