In every summer vacation my family visits Dehradun (in law’s house) so we tend to explore the places in Uttranchal. I love to be there and especially in the month of June when Delhi / NCR in the grip of scorching heat.
We started our journey for Yamnotri on June 7th , 2010 from Dehradun at 7.30 AM along with my sister’s family. We were four adults & four Kids.
There are two routes for Yamnotri from Dehradun :-
Route No. 1- Dehradun – 36 Kms – Herbertpur – 5 Kms – Vikas Nagar – 37 Kms –Yamuna Bridge – 25 Kms-Damta – 28 Kms- Naugaon – 11 Kms Barkot – 29 Kms- Syana Chatti- 5 Kms-Hanuman Chatti- 7 Kms – Janki Chatti- 6 Kms – Yamnotri (184 Kms by road & 6 Kms by Trek, Total 189 Kms)
Route No. 2 – Dehradun – 38 Kms-Mussoorie –10 Kms- Kempty Fall- 16 Kms – Yamuna Bridge – 25 Kms-Damta – 28 Kms- Naugaon – 11 Kms Barkot – 29 Kms- Syana Chatti- 5 Kms-Hanuman Chatti- 7 Kms – Janki Chatti- 6 Kms – Yamnotri (169 Kms by road & 6 Kms by Trek, Total 175 Kms)
Distance wise both the routes are almost equal & these routes meet at Yamuna Bridge.
Char Dham Road map
We chose Route No.2 . From Rajpur road via Jakhand , after couple of Kms only the hilly area started. As we stared early in the morning the climate was little cold. Around 8.00 AM we reached Mussoorie and from Gandhi Circle we took left turn towards Kempty fall. Our first halt was at Kempty fall for the break fast. By the time our breakfast got ready we captured the scenic beauty of Mussoorie in our cameras.
Kempty fall is located at a high altitude of 4500 feet from the sea level. This place was developed as a tourist destination by a British officer John Mekinan, around 1835.The name Kempty is derived from ‘Camp-tea’, as the Britishers would organize their tea parties here
Kempty Fall
After having our breakfast we headed towards Yamuna Bridge, the route coming from Herbertpur also meets at this place. Our second halt was at a beautiful village known as DAMTA , which is about 40 Kms from Kempty fall.
DAMTA is located in tehsil Chakrata , district Dehradun. Its boundries touches three distt Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Tehri.
Damta
As due to the extensive journey we were feeling the motion sickness so we stopped there for sometime and got fresh by washing our faces with the cool mineral water of a stream. We had some liquid diet & proceeded towards our next destination Barkot. It is about 40 kms from Damta. We reached Barkot at 12.00 PM.
Damta
As we were having sufficient time to reach Janki chatti which is the last motorable stop to Yamnotri hence we decided to explore Barkot.
Barkot is located at at a height of about 1828 meters above sea level. It is a haven for any nature lover. We enquired from locals & found there are two temples to visit. We parked our vehicle & started walking towards the temple as guided by the local people. After crossing the market we took a left turn and walked down towards Laxhmi Narayan Temple. This temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu and it is said that it was built by the Pandavas originally. Some of the statues are installed by Adi Shankaracharya.
Laxmi Narayana Temple - Barkot
Adjacent to this Laxmi Narayan temple there was a Aasthbhuja Devi temple also. We took prashad from the temples and proceeded towards Syana Chatti.
Asthbhuja Temple
Aasthbuja Temple - Barkot
Barkot
Syana Chatti is a beautiful place located at the bank of river Yamuna at an altitude of 1982 meters from the sea level
Syana Chatti
Chatti means Sarai ( A place for night Halt) , There are five chatti’s between Barkot and Yamnotri (Syana Chatti , Rana Chatti , Hanuman Chatti , Phool Chatti & Janki chatti)
How the Chatti’s came up —– As the motarable road reached closer to Yamnotri , the new night halt ( Chatti) places were developed. Couple of years back people used to walk from Hanuman Chatti which is about 13 Kms from Yamnotri. Now Janki chatti is last motrable spot, which is about 6 kms from Yamnotri
By the time we reached Syana Chatti , it started raining . We were not expecting that it would be so cold around 3 PM & our woolens were packed inside our bags. But we were enjoying the cool weather as we don’t find such weather here in Delhi during these months.We reached Garhwal Mandal hotel for the lunch. After having our lunch we again started our journey towards Jannki Chatti. On the way we crossed Hanuman Chatti
Hanuman Chatti is located at the confluence of River Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna.
Hanuman Chatti
Hanuman Chatti
By the time we reached Janki chatti it was raining heavily & it was too cold also.So we purchased raincoats for all as we had to walk up towards the hotel. We did not waste our time in searching hotels, we took rooms near the parking area. All were damn tired, we had our dinner in the same hotel where we stayed because it was still raining. We all went to bed early as next day we had to start our journey at 6.00 AM for Yamnotri , which is about 6 Kms on foot from Jannki chatti.
Janki Chatti is located at the height of 2576 meters from the sea level. It is famous for its hot water springs.
Janaki Chatti
Janaki Chatti
My Yamnotri Trip experience will be in the next couple of days.
You hv great knowledge + gud R&D work.. gud to know that there are so many tourist places in Uttarakhand. . :)
Dear Sarita,
I am glad that you liked the post. You are right there are so many unexplored places in Uttrakhand.
ur pictures speak all…
Dear Onil,
Thanks for your sweet words.
Hi Mahesh,
Thanks for the eagerly awaited post. Nice one on ‘ Camp tea’. Kemptee has been a favourite jaunt for the family, from Dehradun.
Route to Yamunotri from Dehradun end offers a different perspective.
Do tell us about road condition on this stretch.
Waiting for your arrival onto Yamunotri and beyond that to Gangotri.
Auro.
Dear Aurojit,
Thanks for going through the post.
The Road condition of Yamnotri is comparatively better then Gangotri. The road between Yamnotri & Gangotri is also good except the couple of Kms near Bhatwari where renovation is going on.
Due to some busy schedules & lack of motivation , post are delayed :-)
Hi Mahesh,
Congratulations on nicely written post by you. I have been to Mussorie several times and always thought of going beyond that but had no idea nor did i took th epian to read about all the destinations beyond Mussorie/ Kempty Falls. Please tell us how was it in Yamunotri…….eagerly waiting for your second & concluding post of Yamunotri. I am feeling a urge to go to Yamunotri so please tell us how did you reached Yamunotri and also please tell us about the road conditions………………….
Dear Roshan,
Thanks for your good wishes. There are three routes to Yamnotri:-
1. From Dehradun via Kempty Fall (Mussoorie)
2. From Dehradun via Herbertpur
3. From Rishikesh via Chamba
The road condition to Yamnotri is Good.
Hi Mr. Mahesh ,
Very Nice write up. From Dun to Mussoorie , You took which road one cut is just before the Sai temple (which is the most known route) and the second cut is just at the end of the Rajpur Road. We generally take the second cut towards Mussoorie which is just at the end of Rajpur Road.
Sahil
Dear Sahil,
Thanks for the appreciation.
We took the most preferred road only :-), cut just before Sai Temple.
I personally like the driving from the second cut as the roads there are a little more steep. However this road joins the road from the first turn just before the Shiv Temple. The second turn is also used by the Uttarakhand State Roadways buses for Mussoorie.
Thanks,
Sahil
I read this before but guess never commented.
Somehow Yamunotri appears a far-away place but in reality its not. With a night-halt at Doon/Mussoorie I guess one can make a good one night trip to Yamunotri and come back.
I should plan a visit soon, before they decide to tar the stretch till Yamunotri. Thanks for sharing Mahesh.
Dear Nandan,
Its better to be late then never. Our professor sab also forgot to comment , I am still waiting for that day. :-)
Please avoid your trip while rainy season. Chardham temples will be closed after Diwali.
Its better to take two halts , one at Doon / Mussoorie and second one at Jannki Chatti because the trek to Yamunotri is 06 kms from Janki Chatti. The trek route to Yamnotri is steep but the last 3 kms is highly steep.
By the way when you are planning to visit.
Yeah. Professor Khamesra is I think busy with other disciples.
No firm plans. It was greatly discussed and we were about to do it this summers but since we didn’t find any company, we sort of gave in. Trust me, if I had read this before, I would have taken the plunge.
We thought that it would be better to have parents/family around, so plan was deferred. Now that I am much more confident , I would try to plan something in late September, hoping that its not too cold by then and rains would be over.
So we are almost till Yamnotri, only a night away :-)
I must say that the pictures are very beautiful. As always, I wish that they were a little bigger in size. The two pictures of village Damta and the LaxmiNarayan Temple of Barkot are beautiful.
Its interesting to know the etymology of Kempty Falls & the meaning of Chatti. Such description helps in knowing the places in a much easier way.
Professor Sb – I just love this nick name, thanks for giving me one.
These days ghumakkar is blessed with many write-ups, talented authors, adventurous ghumakkars that it becomes difficult to follow all. Though, Its always a pleasure for me to start my day with reading a post of one of my close ghumakkar family.
Thanks Mahesh for not forgetting me and taking me along with you on this scenic trip to Yamnotri.
Dear Manish,
Not even one night away, Yamnotri Post is already publised on Sunday evening. Waiting for your comment. :-)
Thanks for going thru the post & your comments.
How can we forget you, You are one of the pillar of the Ghumakkar.com.
And thanks for liking the nick name given by me. :-)