Introduction
Janki Chatti is a small hilly town located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 8,694 feet (2,650 meters) above sea level. It is popular as the base for the Yamunotri Temple Trek (Part of the sacred Char Dham Yatra) and also famous for its stunning natural beauty and serene environment amidst the Himalayan landscape.
The village is also associated with Goddess Janki (known as Sita), the wife of Lord Rama, who is said to have rested here in her early life, and its natural hot springs, where pilgrims usually take a bath before beginning their journey to Char DHam, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers, spiritual enthusiasts, or peace seekers.
Today, I’m going to tell you all about Janki Chatti, covering history, significance, features, how to reach it, the best time to visit, places to visit, things to do, and more. So let's start.
Key Facts Of Janki Chatti
Location: Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand.
Altitude: 2,650 meters (8,694 feet) above sea level.
Highlights: surrounding scenery, local culture, and cuisine
Famous For: natural hot springs and the starting point of the Yamunotri trek
Trek Distance To Yamunotri: 6 km
Nearest Major Town: Bakot
Nearest Railway Station: Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport In Dehradun
Best Time To Visit: April To June and September to October
History And Significance Of Janki Chatti
Janki Chatti has a vital history and significance, rooted in Hindu Mythology and its important role as the stopover point for the Yamunotri pilgrimage.
Mythological Origins
Mythological association with Sita: The Village–Janki Chatti, named after Goddess Janki, a revered name of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. According to legends and local beliefs, Devi Sita meditated here when she was separated from Lord Rama, and her footprints still can be seen on a rock in this area, making it a significant site for devotees.
Ancient Pilgrimage route: For many years, Janki Chatti has served as a key stop point for the pilgrims who used this area to start their arduous trek to Yamunotri. Once upon a time, it was a less explored region, but after some time, its importance grew as the primary shifting point for the Yamunotri temple, replacing the longer route at Hanuman Chatti.
Meditation Spot: For Centuries, the sages and saints used this area as their meditation spot.
Significance:
The significance of Janki Chatti is rooted in its spiritual importance and natural beauty.
Gateway To Yamunotri Temple: Janki Chatti is the last motorable point to Yamunotri; its primary significance is as the gateway to the Yamunotri temple, the abode of Goddess Yamuna. All the pilgrims of Char Dham Yatra pass through here, making it a spiritual landmark.
Many Hot Water Springs: The town is also famous for its natural hot springs, like Surya Kund, which is one of the major attractions of this place. It is believed that taking a bath in these hot springs purifies the body, heals the skin of devotees before proceeding to the temple.
Natural Beauty: Beyond its spiritual significance, the site is also known for its natural beauty; amidst the Badarpoonch peak, lush green meadows and waterfalls provide a serene environment for meditation and adventure.
Logistical Hub: Janki Chatti provides essential amenities such as Hotels, Guesthouses, local eateries and a hub of ponu/palki booking for the Yamunotri trek.
Altitude, Location & Geographical Features
Janki Chatti is a Himalayan Village located in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand, which is known as the last motorable point and base for the Yamunotri temple trek. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and famous for its sacred hot water springs.
Location: Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand, in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Janki Chatti Height: The town is situated at an altitude of 8,694 feet (2,650 meters) above sea level.
Geographical Features of Janki Chatti:
Geographical Setting: Janki Chatti is surrounded by the towering Himalayan peaks, lush bugyals, and dense oak forests.
Hot Water Springs: Janki Chatti is famous for its natural hot water springs, like Surya Kund, where pilgrims take a holy bath before heading to the Yamunotri trek. Surya Kund, near the base camp, is used to cook rice and potatoes for offering to Goddess Yamuna.
Base Camp: One of the primary features of Yamunotri is that the town serves as the base for the Yamunotri pilgrimage trek.
How To Reach Janki Chatti
Janki Chatti is accessible by air, train and road, but there is no direct air or train connectivity to the village itself; the road journey is required for the final leg of the trek. Firstly, you need to travel to the major hubs of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun via air, train, and road. From these cities, you need to complete the rest of your journey by road travel. Here is a detailed overview of how to reach Janki Chattti.
By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Janki Chatti. From there, you can take a taxi or bus towards Janki Chatti.
Note: There is no direct bus to Janki Chatti; the bus will drop you till Barkot from there, you need to take a shared taxi to reach Janki Chatti.
By Train: The nearest railheads to Janki Chatti are Dehradun, which is around 180 km away; Rishikesh, which is about 222 km away; and Haridwar, which is about 250 km away from Janki Chatti.
You can take a train to any of these railheads from your city. After that, continue by road.
By Road: Janki Chatti has great road connectivity to major cities, like Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. You can take a bus to Till Barkot, and from there, take a shared taxi for the final leg of the journey.
For more comfortable and direct access to Janki Chatti, hire a taxi from Hariwar, Dehradun or Rishikesh.
Key Distances:
Barkot To Janki Chatti Distance: 45 km by road
Uttarkashi to Janki Chatti Distance: 123 km by road
Hanuman Chatti to Janki Chatti distance: 8 km by road
Phool Jatti to Janki Chatti: 3 km by road
Kharsali Village to Janki Chatti distance: 1 km by road
Janki Chatti to Yamunotri Distance: 6 km trek
Char Dham Distance Chart from Janki Chatti
Best Time To Visit Janki Chatti
The best time to visit Janki Chatti is May to June (summer months) and September to October, when the weather is pleasant and the trails are accessible, ideal for trekking and pilgrimage. Avoid the monsoon season, as it leads to landslides and roadblocks; it is risky to travel, and during the winter season, the region becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. Here is a brief about the best time to visit Janki Chatti by season.
Summer season (May to June): Summer is pleasant and warm in Janki Chatti, experiencing clear skies and comfortable weather. Snow is melting, which provides better accessibility.
Temperature: 10°C to 20°C
Conditions: warm days, chilly nights, making it ideal for trekking and sightseeing.
Monsoon Season (July-August): brings heavy snowfall, which triggers landslides, making travel risky and
Temperature: 12°C to 22°C
Conditions: slippery and muddy trials, high humidity and poor visibility.
Autumn Season (Sep-Oct): post-monsoon is another ideal time to visit Janki Chatti, as it experiences pleasant weather and comfortable temperatures, and the surrounding scenery is also vibrant at this time, making it an ideal time for trekking and pilgrimage.
Temperature: 8°C to 15°C
Conditions: clear skies, cold evening and night, trails are accessible and provide excellent visibility of the peaks.
Winter Season (Nov-March): During the winter, the entire region is covered with snow, making the region inaccessible, and the temple and nearby trails are closed due to heavy snowfall.
Temperature: 0°C to 5°C
Conditions: very cold, harsh and inaccessible trails, making travel difficult.
Best Places To Visit In Janki Chatti
Yamunotri Temple: Yamunotri is the abode of the Goddess Yamuna, part of the sacred Char Dham Yatra, located in the Uttatrkashi district of Uttarakhand at a distance of around 6 km from Janki Chatti. It is the first temple that is covered in the Char Dham Yatra, marking the beginning of a sacred yatra.
Surya Kund: Surya Kund, located between the Janki Chatti and Yamunotri Temple trail, is a sacred hot water spring, where pilgrims cooked rice and potatoes to offer at the temple.
Kharsali Village: Kharsali is a small village, known as the winter home to the Yamunotri temple and also home to the Shani Dev Temple. It is located at a distance of around 1 km from Janki Chatti, accessible via shuttle walk.
Hanuman Chatti: A scenic spot on the Yamunotri temple route, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows. It is renowned as the confluence of the Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna Rivers and is known for its ancient temple dedicated to lord hanuman.
Syana Chatti: A serene riverside village, located on the Barkot-Yamunotri road. It provides basic amenities like ponies, accommodation and food stalls for the pilgrims of the Yamunotri temple.
Dodi Tal: A sacred crystal-clear alpine lake, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. It is accessible by a 22 km trek from Sangam Chatti.
Barkot: Barkot is a scenic site located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at a distance of around 45 km by road. Serving as a key stop point for Yamunotri and other sites, it also offers food and hotels in various price ranges.
Uttarkashi: Uttarkashi is a sacred Himalayan town in Uttarakhand, known for its spiritual heritage (gateway to Yamunotri and Gangotri temple) and many ancient temples like Vishwanath temple and Kuteti Devi Temple. The town is surrounded by snow-capped himalayan peaks and is situated on the Bhagirathi river, making it a perfect tourist destination.
Templess In Janki Chatti
There are so many other temples beyond the Yamunotri temple near Janki Chatti that every traveler must explore.
- Shani Dev Temple: A sacred temple made with stone and wood, located in the Kharsali village at a distance of around 1.5 km from Janki Chatti.
- Yamuna Mata Winter Temple: During the winter season, the main Yamunotri temple becomes inaccessible, and the idol of Goddess Yamuna is shifted to her winter abode in Kharsali temple. It is a perfect place to witness local culture and rituals of winter abode of Goddess Yamuna.
- Hamnumam Temple: An ancient temple dedicated to lord hanuman and located in Hanuman Chatti, at a distance of around 8 km from Janki Chatti. The temple holds immense spiritual significance for local villagers, considered as a protector of this region.
- Kharasali Mahadev Temple: A small, ancient temple of lord shiva, located in the main area of Kharsali village. It is surrounded towry himalayan peaks, ideal for meditation and photography
Things To Do In Janki Chatti
Holy Bath: Janki Chatti is famous for its hot water springs with thermal properties. it is believed that taking a bath in this sacred spring cleanses the sins of visitors, so you should also take a dip before heading for the trek.
Explore the nearby village: Janki Chatti is rich in its local culture, so immerse yourself through exploring the nearby villages like Kharsali and Sayana Chatti.
Witness Yamuna River point: The Yamuna river veiwpoint is one of the most scenic spot in this area, offers the majestic views of the Himalayas.
Explore Nearby Temples: There are so many temples near Janki Chatti, such as Hanuman temple, Kharsali Temple, Shani Dev temple, etc., to explore in Janki Chatti.
Photography & Nature walks: The vibrant Himalayan scenery of nearby villages and towns, provides an opportunity for nature walks and photography.
Where To Stay In Janki Chatti
The most common question raised by many travelers is where to stay in Janki Chatti?" so here is an answer to it.
Janki Chatti has a wider range of stay options, from basic to luxury, in various prices. You can choose a hotel according to your needs and preferences. Here are some suggested accommodation options in Janki Chatti.
Where To Eat In Janki Chatti:
There are so many food options in Janki Chatti, including restaurants, local eatiries and Dhabha, which offers pure vegetarian food and local Garhwali cuisine. Some hotels also offer on-site restaurant service.
Annapurna Hotel and Restaurant.
Naveen Restaurant
Kot Ganga Dhabha
Janki Chatti Bhojnalaya:
Local Tea and snack Stalls
These are some popular food eateries in Janki Chatti that serve simple local cuisine at lowest price.
Travel Tips For Janki Chatti
Be aware of the weather: Weather in this region changes rapidly, so prepare for it. Cary a raincoat for sudden rain.
Keep Yatra registration: Firstly, register yourself on the official portal of Uttarakhand tourism and cary a digital and hard copy of the registration.
Pack light but wisely: pack warm clothes, such as a sweater, socks, jacket, gloves, woolen cap, etc.
Carry light snacks & water bottles: pack dry fruits and glucose sachets to get instant energy durig the trek.
Carry Trek essentials: Trekking shoes, trek pole, a power bank, flashlight, etc for a safe trek.
FAQs
What is Janki Chatti famous for?
Janki Chatti is a scenic village, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The village is famous for its stunning himalayan setting, surrounded by snow-capped himalaya and its significance as the base for yamunotri temple trek.
How high is janki chatti from sea level.
Janki Chatti is situated at height of 8,694 feet (2,650 meters) above sea level.
How can I reach Janki Chatti?
To reach Janki Chatti, you need to travel to Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dheradun by road, trian or air, and then you need to travel by road via taxi or bus for the final stretch of the journey. Buses and taxis are readily availble from Hafidwar and Rishikesh during the yatra season.
What is the best time to visit Janki Chatti?
The best time to visit is dependent on accessibility and safety reasons; the town is accessible during the summer and autumn and closes during the winter due to heavy snow and harsh weather. May to jun and September to October are considered as the ideal time period to visit Janki Chatti, offering pleasant weather, accessible trials, ideal for trekking and pilgrimage.
Can we stay in Janki Chatti?
There are so many hotels in Janki Chatti in wider range from basic homestays, cottage to luxury resorts; you can choose hotels according to your budget and needs.
