Barkot is a town and a Nagar Panchayat situated in the Uttarkashi District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in the northern part of India. The district is a part of the Garhwal division. It has an average elevation of 1,220 metres. It is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. It receives water from two holy rivers, namely Ganga and Yamuna. Barkot offers panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains of "Bandar Poonch". Barkot is an important stopover en-route to Yamunotri and Gangotri, among the four Char Dham Yatra pilgrimages.
Geography of Barkot
The Dehradun district surrounds the Barkot on the north by the state of Himachal Pradesh, on the northeast by Tibet, on the east by the Chamoli District, on the southeast by the Rudraprayag District, on the south by the Tehri Garhwal District, and on the west.
Demography of Barkot
As per the 2001 India census, Barkot has a total population of 16568. Males amount to 53% of the population and females make up 47%. The town of Barkot has a mean literacy rate of 85%, higher than the nationwide standard of 59.5% where 93% of the males and 77% of the females are literate. 54% of the population consists of children below 6 years of age.
Tourism in Barkot
Barkot is a hill station in Uttarakhand also known for its scenic natural beauty located in the higher Himalayan mountain ranges. This hill station is an ideal holidaying and adventure destination for nature lovers and adventurers as the place proffers with many beautiful scenic views and trekking excursions. Barkot offers several opportunities for trekking and white water rafting. The apple orchards, ravishing landscapes and gushing water of the sacred river Yamuna are the prime attractions of this place.
Temples in Barkot
Barkot attracts tourists interested in its temples and pilgrimage. Temples like Chandreshwar Mahadev Mandir, Laxmi Narayan Mandir and Bhagwati Mandir are located in Barkot.
Places to Visit in Barkot
•Yamunotri Temple: Yamunotri along with Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath forms the Char Dham pilgrimage. It is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna.
•Surya Kund: Popular for taking the ritual dip, it is believed a dip in the Surya Kund removes all sins.
•Gangotri: Origin of the River Ganga and seat of the Goddess Ganga, it is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
