Devoted worship of the river Yamuna on her sacred day with offerings, aarti, and ritual bathing at the source.
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Naksh.iq
ISSUE Nº 47 · MAY 2026
Festival · UTTARAKHAND
Yamuna Chhath.
April (Chaitra Shukla Shashthi) · Yamunotri
Going for this? Yamunotri in April
NakshIQ score
1/10
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April: the temple remains closed but preparations accelerate. The road from Barkot to Janki Chatti (38km) clears. The trek route from Janki Chatti to Yamunotri (6km) is being cleared of snow and debris. The hot springs area may be accessible for the adventurous but no temple services exist. The opening date (around Akshaya Tritiya in May) is announced.
Getting there
Elevation
3293 m
Nearest airport
Jolly Grant, Dehradun — 285km
Nearest railway
Rishikesh — 260km
Live in Yamunotri
Where to stay in Yamunotri
Janki Chatti Guest Houses
₹500-1,000/nightguesthouse · Janki ChattiMultiple small guesthouses at the trek base. Basic rooms with blankets. Hot water is hit-or-miss. The best ones face the Yamuna river. Arrive by 2 PM or everything fills up.
Where to eat
Surya Kund Prasad (rice & potato cooked in hot spring)
LegendaryYamunotri Temple · ₹Signaturerice-and-potato prasad cooked in 88°C thermal spring
Buy the muslin-cloth rice/potato pouch from the small stalls at the temple plaza (₹20-50). Hand the cooked prasad to the priest first for offering, then collect — eating it before the offering breaks the ritual.
GMVN Tourist Rest House Restaurant
Janki Chatti · ₹Signaturedal-chawal-roti-sabzi thali
Tell the caretaker the night before if you want a 5am breakfast before the trek — they'll have parathas and tea ready. The 'menu' is fictional; eat what the kitchen has cooked.
Janki Chatti Pahadi Rasoi
Janki Chatti road-head (6km trek start) · ₹SignatureAloo ke gutke + mandua roti + ghee
Eat a heavy carb meal here pre-trek at 6-7am — the 6km Yamunotri ascent (gradient ~600m) is harder than it looks. Order aloo gutke + 2 mandua roti + ghee dollop. Skip the pre-packaged "pahari thali" sold to tourist groups — ask for the Garhwali family menu (homestyle), usually ₹50 cheaper.
Trek-route dhabas (Janki Chatti to Yamunotri)
Janki Chatti · ₹Signaturemaggi noodles with masala chai
Carry ₹500 in ₹10-50 notes — most stalls don't accept UPI above Bhairon Mandir (3km mark). Hot lemon-honey-ginger water (₹40-60) is the smartest order at altitude — sugar drinks worsen mild AMS.
What else to see in Yamunotri
Yamunotri Temple
Char Dham temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna at 10,797 ft. Accessible only by a 6 km trek.
temple1-2 hoursSurya Kund
Hot spring near the temple where water boils. Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in the thermal water.
hot-spring30 min
Other festivals in Yamunotri
Other festivals in April, elsewhere
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