Yamuna River in Agra

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About The Origin:
The river Yamuna, a major tributary of river Ganges initiates from the Yamunotri glacier near Banderpoonch peaks (38o 59' N 78o 27' E) in the Mussourie range of the lower Himalayas at an elevation of about 6387 meters above mean sea level in district Uttarkashi (Uttranchal). Arising from the source, river Yamuna flows through a series of valleys for about 200 Kms, in lower Himalayas and emerges into Indo-Gangetic plains. In the upper reaches, the main valley is overlooked by numerous hanging valleys, carved by glaciers during the last ice ages. In the upper stretch of 200 Km, it draws water from several major streams. The combined rivulet flows through the Shivalik range of the hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal states of India and enters into plains at Dak Pathar in Uttranchal. It is said that the temple of Yamunotri was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the last decade of the 19th century. In 1923, this was destroyed, with only the idols left, and was rebuilt. It was once again damaged in 1982.

A hot water pool at Yamunotri is used for the preparation of "PRASAD". Normally, rice and potatoes are cooked in cloth bags by dipping them in the hot water. In its first 170 km stretch, the tributaries of Rishi Ganga Kunta, Hanuman Ganga, Tons and Giri join the main river.

The Tons, largest tributary of the Yamuna, has some magical spots in its upper ridges. Forests of Alder and Blue pine lead to the famous Har-ki-Dun catchment area, source of another tributary, the Rupin. Har-ki-Dun is a spectacular valley high up, an amphitheatre ringed on three sides by spurs of the Great Himalaya. A wonderland with vast grassy Alps that inspire a sense of solitude can only be inspired by the lofty Himalayas. The Rupin makes a spectacular precipitous descent through a narrow valley.

Few Facts and Figures:
Source: Yamuntri
Length: 1370 km
Coverage: Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Hariyana, Delhi.
Tributaries: Chambal, Betwa, Sind & Ken.

Legend Associated with Yamuna:
The Yamuna and the Ganges are regarded as the most sacred rivers in India. Yamuna, according to the legends, was the daughter of Surya, the Sun God, and sister to Yama, the God of Death. Consequently, popular belief is that those who take a dip in its holy waters are not tormented by fears of death.

Yamuna near Tajmahal in Agra

The river Yamuna is connected to Lord Krishna's pastimes. The Lord Krishna blessed the River Yamuna from the beginning of His transcendental pastimes in the world. While His father Vasudeva was crossing the Yamuna with baby Lord Krishna for a safe place at Gokul on the other bank of the river from Mathura, the Lord fell down in the river, and by the dust of His lotus feet the river at once became sanctified.

Wildlife and Surroundings:

Yamuna is the frontier of the Asian Elephant. The forests of the lower Yamuna offer ideal corridors for elephant movement. The major forests to be found here are of Sal , Khair (Acacia), and Sissoo (Rosewood) trees, and the Chir Pine forests of the Shivalik Hills.
Pollution:

The Yamuna River, the largest tributary of the Ganges in northern India that once served as an enchanting backdrop for the Taj Mahal, is so polluted today that it poses a threat to the world famed monument Tajmahal as well as the city Agra. Architects and conservationists have expressed concern over the state of the river, claiming that it can cause permanent damage to the foundation of the Tajmahal, the spectacular monument of love. The Yamuna has been reduced to a nullah, draining industrial effluents, sewage, dirt and other toxic substances which are a real threat not only to human beings but also to the Taj Mahal.

Present Scenario:

Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, especially around New Delhi, the capital of India, which dumps about 57% of its waste into the river. Though numerous attempts have been made to clean it, the efforts have proven to be futile. Although the government of India has spent nearly $500 million to clean up the river, the river continues to be polluted with garbage while most sewage treatment facilities are under funded or malfunctioning. In addition, the water in this river remains stagnant for almost 9 months in a year aggravating the situation. Delhi alone contributes around 3,296 MLD (million litres per day) of sewage in the river.

How to Reach:
Agra is easily reachable by air, railways and bus services. As such, river Yamuna can be easily accessible by all means of communication.