One of the four sacred dhams of Uttarakhand, and revered in Hindu mythology, Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna. The Yamunotri shrines stands on the western flank of the Bandarpunch peak (20,731 ft). The temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The origin of the river Yamuna is the Champasar Glacier near Yamunotri. Though it is very difficult to reach the exact source of the holy river, pilgrims flock to the shrine which is open from May to November. Legend has it that a sage, Asit Muni, used to reside at this secluded spot. The hot springs here are also an attraction. From Rishikesh, 220 kms journey takes one to Hanuman Chatti where the motorable road ends. The remaining 13 kms to Yamunotri must be covered on foot or on ponies. The trail winds through rugged mountains and dense forests. Porters and palanquins are available on hire.