Onam Festival

Onam is the most popular festival of Kerala (a southern coastal state of India). This is a Hindu festival, celebrated with a great enthusiasm throughout Kerala for a period of ten days. Every year this festival falls on the Malayalam month of Chingam - between August and September and also known as the harvest festival of Kerala.

Onam is one of the most ancient Hindu festivals which is still celebrated with a great devotion. Onam marks the homecoming of King Mahabali, a legendary king, who ruled Kerala in ancient times. That period was believed to be the golden age of Karala, people were happy, free from harm and complete harmony and prosperity was there. This golden age ended when Vamana (an avatar of Lord Vishnu)

Onam is celebrated for ten days - Atham is the first day and Thiruvonam is the final day of the celebration. People wear new clothes, decorate their houses and put flower carpet called 'Pookalam' in front of their houses, to welcome the King Mahabali. Special pujas are offered in the temples in early morning and younger members take blessings and gifts from the elder members of the family.

 During Onam traditional rituals are performed followed by a lavish feast with twenty-one homemade curries and sweet payasam on plantain leaf. Spectacular Carnivals of elephants, fireworks, boat races, music and the famous Kathakalli dance are traditionally associated with this festival. The state government of Karala conducts Tourism Week celebrations in connection with Onam, showcasing Kerala's beauty and culture.

The Yamunotri

The Yamunotri temple lies close to the source of the Yamuna River, the second holiest river in India, which flows all the way down past the Taj Mahal. The temple is relatively undeveloped as it's the least visited of the Char Dham. However, there is a certain magic to be experienced from the pristine mountain air, running water, natural scenic beauty, and enthusiastic devotees. Pilgrims also get to enjoy a number of hot water springs in the vicinity of the temple.


The same as Gangotri temple, Yamunotri temple opens every year on Akshaya Tritiya (an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar). It falls in the last week of April or first week of May. The temple also closes for the season on Diwali. On the day the temple opens, the Goddess is carried from the nearby village of Kharsali (said to be Yamuna's mother's home), installed in the temple, and duly returned when the temple closes.


The route by road is Haridwar/Rishikesh-Dehradun-Mussoorie-Naugaon-Barkot–Hanuman Chatti. The journey to the village of Hanuman Chatti, which is around 14 kilometers from the Yamunotri temple, takes around eight hours from Rishikesh and six hours from the hill station of Mussoorie.

From there, it's necessary to take a shared taxi (departures every few minutes) to Janki Chatti. Your trek starts there! It's only five kilometers to the Yamunotri temple, via Kharsali, but it's a very steep and and in some parts narrow climb. As a result, people usually take around two hours to cover the distance and it really helps if you take a locally available walking stick. If you find you don't want to walk, there are mules and men to help carry you.