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Voykit pocket guide · India
Yamunotri
Spend 1 day for the temple trek; add a second night if you need rest after the climb.
Yamunotri is a high-altitude pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, reachable by taxi/jeep from Rishikesh or Haridwar and a short trek to the temple. The season runs May–Nov, and the climb is steep, so most visitors do a day trip, but an extra night eases fatigue.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,800–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500–3,500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Satvik meal at temple restaurant | ₹150–300 |
| Bottle of spring water | free |
| Porter fee per day | ₹500–800 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DED · Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun)
- ≈ 200 km (124 mi), 6 h drive to Rishikesh, then taxi to Janaki Chatti≈ 124 mi (200 km), 6 h drive to Rishikesh, then taxi to Janaki Chatti
Typical fares
- Rishikesh → Janaki Chatti (SUV)
- ≈ ₹2,500 round trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Hire an SUV or MUV (Innova, Qualis, Scorpio) from Rishikesh/Haridwar; the road ends at Janaki Chatti, then walk or use ponies (avoid for hygiene). No local buses.
See and do
Known for
- Yamunotri Temple
- Tapt Kund hot springs
- Himalayan pilgrimage trek
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Govindghat (Badrinath gateway) | Taxi from Janaki Chatti, about 2 h drive | ≈ 2 h |
| Hanuman Chatti (trek start) | Walk from Janaki Chatti, 30 min | ≈ 30 min |
Sleep
- Dharamshalas near parking lot
- Basic rooms, cheap in off-season, higher rates in summer.
- GMVNL guesthouses
- Government-run, similar price range.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | यह कितना है?yah kitna hai? |
| Can I have water? | पानी मिल सकता है?paani mil sakta hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Open only mid-May to Diwali (Nov); check dates before travel.
- Roads are rough; avoid small cars.
- Ponies create litter; better to walk.
- Altitude and steep trek can be hard for those with health issues.
Generally safe for pilgrims; risks are altitude, rough terrain and seasonal road closures.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Yamunotri yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Yamunotri Temple
- Tapt Kund hot springs
- Himalayan pilgrimage trek
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Yamunotri, revision 5324064 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5324064
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Yamunotri
कृपया इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All services112
Indian consulates in Dehradun and Delhi; US consulate in New Delhi (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/yamunotri). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.