Uttarakhand 99

•sulphur spring and icy Yamuna. The origin of these hot springs
is traced from the Saptrishi. A mindful of rice or some potatoes
tied loosely in a piece of cloth is dipped in it, and after a while
it is completely cooked. Above the sulphur springs is Yamunotri
temple about which Tracer observed in 1915-18, "It is in fact very
beyond the place where the various streams formed in the moun-
tain brew by melting of masses of snow unite in one fall into a
•basin below."1

Yamunotri stands on the western bank of the great
peak of Banderpunchh which is 4,421 metres above sea level.
The peak is always snow clad and forms the watershed of
Hanumanganga and Tons rivers. It is said that the sage Asit
had his hermitage here and all his life he bathed daily in both
the Yamuna and the Ganga. During his old age, when disability
prevented him from going to Gangotri, a soft stream of Ganga
emerged from the rocks before him at Yamunotri. The temple of
Yamunaji is the main temple of worship. Close to the temple
there are few hot water springs where the water gushes out of
the mountain cavities at boiling point forming pools. Out of
these pools, Suryakund is the most important pool. Near the
Suryakund there is a rock called Divya Shila which is worshipped
before puja is offered to Yamunaji.

On the other flank of the shrine is the majestic peak of
Banderpunchh (20,731. ft.) which is the eternal source of
Yamuna which flows down slenderly but as it descends down
the mountain path, it grows in shape, size and spiritual content,
-till it meets and mingles holy Ganges in Sangam at Allahabad.

The Yamunotri valley is highly enchanting and captivates the
heart of pilgrims.

The inhabitants

There is absolutely no positive trace of history except a few
-references here and there. Thus far from the current of political
upheavals, the inhabitants of this valley are full of joys of life,
steeped in tradition and living amidst beauties of nature. These
good-looking people lead a busy life carrying long cylindrical
baskets to hold the wooden revolving spindle (Takli) and wool

1. Paripoornanand Paiauli, A Tourist* s View of the Valley of Gods.