Yamunotri
Origin of Yamuna

Barkot may be a hill station, located at an elevation of about 1,220 m above water level . It forms a neighborhood of the Uttarkashi district of the state of Uttarakhand, within the Garhwal division. the luxurious and pristine landscape of Barkot receives water from two holy rivers, namely, the Ganga and therefore the Yamuna. it’s a quaint place whose remoteness adds to its charm. On the north, it’s surrounded by Dehradun, on the east by Chamoli and to its northeast lies Tibet.
Barkot invites adventure- seekers and nature-lovers alike, due to its challenging trekking routes and scenic panoramas. Prime attractions include apple orchards and therefore the sacred Yamuna river flowing by. From Barkot, one also can get picturesque views of the magnificent peak of Bandarpunch, along side other majestic peaks of the Himalayan range. Barkot is found about 30 km from the closest big town of Tehri Garhwal and about 50 km from the sacred Yamunotri Dham.

Yamunotri is one among the main spiritual destinations in India and lies on the western side of the Garhwal Himalayas. Situated at an elevation of about 3,293 m, it boasts high mountain peaks, glaciers and therefore the pristine Yamuna river. Yamunotri is that the place from where the second-most sacred river of India, Yamuna, originates, and thus Yamunotri makes one-fourth of the famous Char Dham pilgrimage taken by Hindus.
River Yamuna starts from the Yamunotri glacier that features a height of about 6,387 m. From here, the river flows into Saptarishi Kund then gushes southwards during a series of several waterfalls.
The major attraction in Yamunotri may be a temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, who is claimed to be the daughter of the sun god and therefore the twin sister of Yama (god of death). A sacred idol of Yamuna Devi has been placed within the inner sanctum. The idol is formed of polished black ebony and has intricate carvings thereon . Two lovely springs, Surya Kund and Gauri Kund, flank the temple. it’s a standard practice among devotees to dip rice and potatoes into the boiling water of the springs and offer it to the Yamuna idol. This food is later distributed as prasad to devotees. The temple was inbuilt 1839 AD by Sudarshan Shah, a famous Garhwal monarch. it had been later destroyed in an earthquake and was rebuilt by Maharani of Jaipur, Gularia Devi, within the 19th century. The temple boasts the Nagar pattern of architecture and is made with granite. the highest of the structure hosts a medium conical-shaped minaret, highlighted by straw with a bright vermilion border.

Uttarkashi is sprawled over a neighborhood of 8,016 sq km within the rugged terrain of the Himalayas. it’s a gorgeous hill district that lies at an elevation of 1,158 m above water level . The word ‘Uttrakashi’ means ‘kashi of the north’ and therefore the place is revered almost the maximum amount because the ‘kashi of the plains’–Varanasi. a bit like Varanasi, Uttarkashi is additionally located on the banks of Ganga river (Bhagirathi). Besides enjoying an in depth proximity to major religious centres of Yamunotri and Gangotri, it’s home to several beautiful temples. the foremost famous is that the temple dedicated to Lord Vishwanath (an avatar of Lord Shiva), just 100 m from the local bus stand. The Shakti Temple, located right opposite the Vishwanath Temple, is additionally popular among devotees and is home to a 26-ft-high trishul (trident).
Uttarkashi has been a sacred ground of Hindus since ages and it’s believed that sages and seers have used this as a spiritual place to practice penances and performed sacrifices. it had been also the hub of the Vedic language and other people came here from across the country to find out the language better.
Trekkers reach Uttarkashi to go to a prominent trekking site, Har Ki Doon (3,506 m). Moreover, one can get stunning views of the Dodital Lake, which may be accessed by trekking or by road. it’s one among the foremost spectacular high-altitude lakes within the state and is about amidst picturesque surroundings. The district also boasts the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, which was found out in 1965.
Uttarkashi was created on February 24, 1960, and is bordered by Himachal Pradesh on the north, and Tibet and Chamoli within the east.