Route library · Outstation · Mountains
Delhi to Yamunotri
Yamunotri is the source shrine of the Yamuna, reached by riding to Janki Chatti at about 2,650 m and finishing the last steep stretch on foot (or by pony/palki) to the temple and its hot springs at Surya Kund. It draws far less traffic than Kedarnath or Badrinath, and the ride up the Yamuna valley through Barkot is one of the better road sections in the western Garhwal.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 850–910 km
- Riding time
- 12–13 hours to Janki Chatti, best split into two days
- Nights
- Two nights minimum; three is more comfortable given the distance
- Start point
- Delhi (via Dehradun, Mussoorie and Barkot)
- Highest point
- About 2,650 m at Janki Chatti; the temple itself is higher, reached on foot
- Difficulty
- Challenging. A long, winding valley road followed by a genuine trek on foot for the last stretch.
- Surface
- Sealed but narrow and winding beyond Barkot, with seasonal repair work common
- Best season
- May–June and September–October, matching the temple's open season. It is closed entirely in winter.
The ride
Delhi → Dehradun → Mussoorie or the bypass → Barkot → Janki Chatti, following the Yamuna upstream through pine and deodar forest on a winding but scenic road. Barkot makes a sensible overnight split given the distance.
Park at Janki Chatti and walk (or hire a pony or palki) the final steep 5–6 km to the Yamunotri temple and the hot springs at Surya Kund, where pilgrims traditionally boil rice and potatoes to carry back down. This is a genuine trek, not a short stroll — budget half a day for the round trip.
Day by day
Delhi to Barkot
Delhi → Dehradun → Mussoorie/bypass → Barkot (8–9 hours). Settle in for the night.
Barkot to Janki Chatti, and the temple walk
Barkot → Janki Chatti (2–3 hours), then the 5–6 km walk (or pony/palki) up to the Yamunotri temple and Surya Kund. A full day.
Janki Chatti to Delhi
Retrace via Barkot and Dehradun, splitting the return over two days as on the way up.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is reliable to Barkot — Dehradun, Mussoorie/bypass towns and Barkot all have pumps.
- Fill up fully at Barkot — Janki Chatti's fuel supply can be unreliable, especially in peak yatra weeks.
- Janki Chatti and Barkot both have seasonal guesthouses; book ahead during the May–June yatra rush.
Road & conditions
Sealed throughout but narrow and winding beyond Barkot, with seasonal landslide repairs common on this stretch. Expect pilgrim traffic, buses and pony trains near Janki Chatti in peak season, and genuinely cold temperatures once you're above Barkot even in the warmer months.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Better on a torquey 250cc+ — the gradients and altitude reward it.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin if you fill up at Barkot.
- Spare fuel
- None strictly needed, but a small reserve is sensible outside peak season.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is a full day back down the valley; signal is unreliable above Barkot; carry the group lead's number, a printed emergency card and warm layers regardless of forecast.
Best time to ride
May to June and September to October, matching the temple's open dates (it closes for winter around Diwali and reopens around Akshaya Tritiya). Outside this window the road and the shrine are simply inaccessible. Even in season, expect cold mornings and evenings at Janki Chatti.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: proper trekking shoes for the walk to the temple, a warm layer, and a walking stick if you have one. This route needs a real trek on foot, not just a ride.
Ride this with a group
We run Yamunotri as a three-night outstation trip, with the temple walk treated as its own full day, not an afternoon add-on.