What are Yamunotri temple darshan timings?

Yamunotri temple darshan timings 2026: Morning opening: 6:00 AM (Pratah Kalash puja). Midday closure: 2:00 PM. Afternoon reopening: 3:00 PM. Evening closure: 9:00 PM. Aarti timings: Pratah Aarti at 6:00 AM, Sayan Aarti (night aarti) at 8:30–9:00 PM. The temple is open all day during the brief midday closure is for priestly rituals. Best darshan time: 6:00–8:00 AM (opening hour — shortest queue, most peaceful atmosphere).

What is the Surya Kund at Yamunotri?

Surya Kund is the most sacred hot spring at Yamunotri, with water temperature of approximately 88°C (190°F) — the hottest of the Char Dham sacred hot springs. The water is said to be sacred to Surya (the Sun god, father of Yamuna). The most famous Yamunotri tradition: pilgrims submerge raw rice and potatoes in a cloth bag (jhola) into the Surya Kund — the extreme heat cooks the food within 15–20 minutes. This cooked food becomes prasad (divine offering) — part is left at the temple and part is taken home as a sacred gift. The hot spring is in the open-air temple compound, accessible to all pilgrims.

Who built the Yamunotri temple?

The current Yamunotri temple was built by Sudarshan Shah, the King of Tehri Garhwal, in the 19th century. The temple has been rebuilt and renovated several times following damage from earthquakes and floods — the region is seismically active. The present structure is a relatively modern (post-independence) stone temple. The original idol of Goddess Yamuna Devi is a black stone (shyama shila) idol. Legend: sage Asit Muni used to bathe in both the Yamuna and Ganga daily — when old age made the Ganga trek too difficult, the Ganga came to meet him here at Yamunotri in the form of a spring.

Yamunotri Temple 2026 | Timings, Darshan & Surya Kund

Overview

Yamunotri temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna Devi, enshrined as a black stone (shyama shila) idol flanked by the golden idol of Goddess Ganga. The temple sits at 3,291 m and is the most intimate of the four Char Dham — compact, deeply spiritual, and requiring a personal physical effort (the 6-km trek) to reach. The Surya Kund hot spring outside the temple is its most memorable feature.

Darshan / Puja	Time
Temple opens (Pratah Kalash puja)	6:00 AM
Morning darshan	6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Midday closure	2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Afternoon darshan	3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sayan Aarti	8:30–9:00 PM
Temple closes	9:00 PM

Planning

The Yamunotri temple compound:
The temple complex is compact and built on the rocky mountainside. Key elements: (1) Divya Shila — a tall sacred stone pillar at the entrance to the temple compound. Tradition requires pilgrims to first perform puja at Divya Shila before entering the main temple. (2) Surya Kund — the 88°C hot spring in the open courtyard, surrounded by stone railings. Pilgrims cook prasad rice here. (3) The main temple — inner sanctum with the black Yamuna Devi idol and golden Ganga idol. (4) Gaurikund — a cooler spring nearby where pilgrims bathe before darshan. (5) Small Hanuman temple at the entrance to the temple area.

The prasad rice / cooking tradition:
The most unique ritual of Yamunotri: bring raw rice (chawal) and potatoes (aloo) from Barkot or Janki Chatti in a cloth bag (jhola). At the Surya Kund, submerge the jhola in the boiling water (using the provided ropes/hooks). Leave for 15–20 minutes. The food cooks in the geothermal heat. Remove, allow to cool slightly, then carry to the temple: a portion is offered as bhog to Goddess Yamuna, the rest is taken home as prasad. This tradition symbolises the Sun (Surya) — Yamuna's father — providing the cooking heat.

Temple history:
The temple was built by Sudarshan Shah of the Tehri Garhwal kingdom in the 19th century. It has been rebuilt several times due to earthquake and flood damage. The present structure is a modest stone shrine. Significance in scripture: Yamuna Devi (Yami) is the twin sister of Yama (the god of death) and daughter of Surya (the Sun god) — bathing in the Yamuna is said to liberate from the fear of Yama.

Travel Tips

Arrive at temple by 8:00 AM for short darshan: The queue builds from 9:00 AM onwards in May–June. To get a good darshan without long waiting, start the Janki Chatti trek at 6:30–7:00 AM — you'll reach the temple by 9:00–9:30 AM, before the peak crowd. In September the queues are shorter throughout the day.
Buy rice and potatoes before the trek: Available at Barkot market and at Janki Chatti shops. Raw rice 500g: ₹30–₹40. Potatoes 4–6: ₹20–₹30. Cloth jhola bag: ₹20–₹50 (if you haven't brought one). The cooked prasad is one of Yamunotri's most treasured memories — don't skip it.
Gaurikund for bathing: Bathe at Gaurikund (cooler spring) before darshan — this is the tradition. Surya Kund is for prasad cooking, not bathing (too hot). Separate bathing areas available.

Accommodation at Trek Base

Janki Chatti: Basic guesthouses and dharamshalas ₹400–₹1,000. Closest to trek start but very limited capacity. Fills early in May.
Barkot (13 km, drive): Best base — GMVN Barkot (₹1,200–₹2,800), private hotels ₹700–₹2,500. ATMs, pharmacy, better meals. See hotels guide.

FAQs

What are Yamunotri temple darshan timings?: Opens 6:00 AM (Pratah Kalash puja). Closes 2:00 PM (midday). Reopens 3:00 PM. Closes 9:00 PM. Sayan Aarti: 8:30–9:00 PM. Best time: 6:00–8:00 AM (opening hour, short queue, spiritual atmosphere).
What is the Surya Kund at Yamunotri?: 88°C sacred hot spring in the temple compound. Pilgrims cook raw rice + potatoes in cloth bag (jhola) here as prasad — 15–20 min submerged. Cooked food offered to goddess + taken home as blessing. Hottest of the Char Dham springs.
Who built the Yamunotri temple?: Sudarshan Shah, King of Tehri Garhwal (19th century). Rebuilt multiple times after earthquakes and floods. Current structure: modest stone shrine. Black stone Yamuna Devi idol (shyama shila). Significance: Yamuna is daughter of Surya and twin of Yama — bathing here liberates from fear of death.

Yamunotri Temple — Timings & Darshan Guide