Altitude:<\/strong> 3300m<\/p>\n<\/div> Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna and is the seat of Goddess Mother Yamuna and the first sacred shrine in the Char Dham Yatra. The Yamuna geographically originates from large glaciers in snow mountains called Kalind mountains, hence Yamuna is also known as Kalindi. Before taking the darshan<\/em> at the Yamunotri temple, the yatris take a bath in the hot water springs. This relieves the yatris of the fatigue from the trek and the scriptures say that it burns all their vices, purifying one from within. It is also said that the hot springs destroy any skin disease one might has due to its healing properties.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> The story goes that Yamuna is daughter of Surya Deva (Sun God) and sister of Yama Deva (God of Death). She has come to the earth in form of a river for salvation of human kind because of the austerities perform by Sage Jamdagni. Her brother Yama raja has given her the boon that whoever comes to her with pure devotion in their heart is spared from the torments of death and further can conquer death itself. In the science of Hatha Yoga, the river Yamuna symbolically represent the Pingala nadi or the positive (+) energy channel or the sun or masculine side in every human. All these stories and symbolisms are for transcending the individual self as Yoga theory says death is the experience of body and mind. The real nature of the Self is experienced after conquest of death. Yamunotri Dham symbolises this.<\/p>\n<\/div> The temple consists of an idol of the Goddess Yamuna made up of black marble. There is also an idol of Goddess Ganga in white stone besides Goddess Yamuna. The Temple closes its portals on the second day of Diwali as winter approaches. The Goddess\u2019 winter shrine is Kharsali village just down the mountain, where she is worshipped till mid April. Both closing and opening ceremony of the shrine are marked with celebrations, elaborate rituals and vedic chants.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Surya Kund in the temple premises is a hot water spring with boiling water where devotees boil rice and potatoes by tying them in a cloth and then distribute it as Prasad <\/em>\u00a0(Religious offering ) amongst the other people. Also in the premises there is Divya Sheela which is a reddish brown rock near Surya Kund which should be worshipped before visiting the main idols of the temple.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> There is a 5km uphill trek to reach the temple. The trek has a walkway with a consistent slope and part of it stairs. There are resting points, shops and toilets all along. For the trek we advise that shoes are used as the path is made with stones and not completely smooth. For those who feel the difficulty to walk up to the fitness or lack of oxygen due to the altitude may take mules to go up. The cost for that is about $4.000 rupees both ways.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> We suggest that the following items are taken:<\/p>\nThe Origin<\/h3><\/div>
The Temple<\/h3><\/div>
Surya Kund<\/h3><\/div>
Points of Interest:<\/h4><\/div>
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How to reach<\/h4><\/div>
Essentials:<\/h3><\/div>
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