Spiritual · Yamunotri, Garhwal
Cooking prasad in the Surya Kund spring
At the temple, join pilgrims lowering cloth bundles of rice and potatoes into Surya Kund, a hot spring near boiling point. Worship at Divya Shila, bathe in the warm Jamuna Bai Kund and take darshan of the goddess.
Photo: Atarax42 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsSurya Kund is the hottest of several springs that rise beside the Yamunotri temple, its water hot enough to cook food. Pilgrims tie raw rice, and sometimes potatoes, in a cloth or muslin bag, lower it into the spring on a string, and pull it out cooked a few minutes later. The rice is offered at the temple and carried home as prasad.
The ritual order is local tradition: first worship at Divya Shila, the rock pillar near the spring, then cook the prasad, bathe in Jamuna Bai Kund, a warm pool used for bathing, and finally take darshan of the goddess Yamuna's black stone image inside the temple. Priests from Kharsali guide pilgrims through the rites for a small dakshina.
Take care around the springs: Surya Kund can scald, and steps are wet and slippery. Use separate bathing areas for men and women and keep valuables with a companion. Photograph the steam and the river, but not people bathing, and not inside the sanctum. In peak weeks the temple area is packed by 10 am, so arriving early makes everything calmer.
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Photo: Atarax42 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
The climb from Janki Chatti to Yamunotri
A steep paved path of about 6 km up the Yamuna gorge from Janki Chatti to the temple, climbing about 650 m past waterfa…
Photo: Anurag.vq · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Kharsali, where the Yamuna spends winter
Cross the river from Janki Chatti to Kharsali, the village of Yamunotri's priests, where the goddess is kept from Diwal…
Questions
Before you book
Why do pilgrims cook rice at Yamunotri?
The Surya Kund spring beside the temple is hot enough to cook rice and potatoes. Pilgrims cook rice in a cloth bundle in the spring, offer it to the goddess and carry it home as prasad. It is one of the best-known customs of the Char Dham.
Can I bathe in the hot springs at Yamunotri?
Yes, in Jamuna Bai Kund, the warm bathing pool near the temple, with separate areas for men and women. Do not touch or enter Surya Kund, which is near boiling. Test water with your hand first.
What are the darshan timings at Yamunotri?
The temple generally opens around 6 am and closes around 8 pm, with a midday break. Since you must walk back down to Janki Chatti, aim to finish darshan by early afternoon. Check timings locally.