Yamunotri

This weekend we trekked to Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna River, which is one of the most sacred rivers in India. Yamunotri is situated at 11,000+ feet in the Himalayas, with the Yamuna glacier feeding the river from above and geothermal vents producing hot springs from below. The hike from the closest village, Janki Chatti, was 4 kilometers. We met interesting people on the way, hailing from all classes and castes, often on horseback, palanquins, or in baskets strapped to peoples' backs. I met a few pilgrims who were willing to correct my Hindi as I attempted to employ what little I know. At the temple we swam in the hot springs and performed puja.
The 12k walk back, from Janki Chatti to the next town called Hanuman Chatti (from Hanuman the monkey in the Ramayana) was breathtaking. Much of the trek was on cliff sides, overlooking enormous valleys with the Yamuna flowing through.
Yamunotri is the first of four legs in the most important pilgrimage, called Char Dham, that a Hindu can make in their life time (the other three parts are Gangotri (source of the Ganges), Kedarnath, and Badrinath).



Yamunotri Temple.



The Glacier.





Janki Chatti