After having breakfast early in the morning, start your holy yatra to the first of the Chardham destinations, Yamunotri. Barkot is the base to begin your pilgrimage to the sacred site of the River Goddess Yamuna, also the sister of Lord Yama of death. The blessings of the Goddess is aid to prevent sudden and gruesome death granting salvation to the devotee as well as ancestors. The trek is over 5 kilometers which can be covered by foot. However, horses and palki services are also available to ease the hike.
Before visiting the temple for worship, first take a dip at the Jamunabai Kund's, natural hot spring with therapeutic properties. Among the many other hot-water springs around the temple, Surya Kund is the most famous. An interesting ritual followed by pilgrims is, wrapping rice in a cloth and dipping in the water, which cooks them and devotees take them as prasad, blessings of the divine.
Also, pay obeisance to the Divya Shila, a rock pillar before entering Yamunotri temple. This revered temple was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th Century. Over the years the temple was destroyed twice and rebuilt again, and yet maintains its original charm.
You can proceed with return trek back to your hotel in Barkot.
Overnight stay and dinner at hotel.