Independent Trekking and Travel

This temple marks the source of the holy Yamuna river which eventually joins the Ganga at Allahabad.   The temple is a 5 km walk along a wide good path from Janki Chatti, opposite the pretty village of Kharsali which is well worth a visit.  There are a number of lodges to serve the pilgrims at Yamunotri so it is possible to stay there as well as Janki Chatti.  Further hikes from Yamunotri can be done as long day hikes or camping hikes.  A very steep trail leads up to the glacial lake above Yamunortri which is the true source of the Yamuna river.  I did not make it all the way to the lake but this can probably be done in a long day hike from Yamunotri for the fit and acclimatized or more comfortably in two days for those equipped to spend a night out.  I was told it takes about 5 hours to get to the lake.  Another option is to climb up to Ball pass which links Yamunotri with the Har Ki Dun Valley.  To go to Har Ki Dun you will need to spend at least one or two nights out before reaching the rest houses that line the Hari Ki Dun Valley.   Allegedly the top of the pas is only 7 km from Yamunotri so it should be possible to reach the top of the pass as a day trip from Yamunotri although it would be a large elevation gain from 3185 m Yamunotri to the top of the 4880 m pass.  I attempted this but was unable to find the correct path even after asking several locals.  I ended up walking a couple hours up a trail that ended in nothing across the river from the temple.  I suspect the path joins the path to Yamunotri slightly before Yamunotri where there is a clear junction but I did not have time to test my theory.