Char Dham Yatra Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Char Dham Yatra Opening and Closing Dates 2026 have been officially confirmed by the Kedar-Badri Mandir Samiti. The holy Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand begins with the onset of summer and, after six months of Darshan for pilgrims and tourists, the Kapat (sacred doors) close again for winter.

If you’re planning your visit to the four ancient Dham temples in 2026 — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath — here are the confirmed opening and closing dates you need before you book anything.

Chardham Yatra Opening & Closing Dates for 2026

Temple Name	Opening Date 2026	Closing Date 2026 (Tentative)
Yamunotri Mandir	19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)	11 November 2026 (Bhai Dooj)
Gangotri Mandir	19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)	10 November 2026 (Deepawali)
Kedarnath Mandir	22 April 2026	30 October 2026 (Bhai Dooj — Tentative)
Badrinath Mandir	23 April 2026	13 November 2026 (Tentative)

Note: Closing dates are tentative. Final closing dates for Kedarnath and Badrinath are officially declared on Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Always confirm with your operator or the temple committee before travel.

Chardham Temples Daily Darshan Timings 2026

Temple timing schedules are followed strictly. Arriving outside these windows means missing Darshan — something no pilgrim wants after a long journey.

Temple	Morning Darshan	Evening Darshan	Aarti Timings
Yamunotri Temple	6:15 am – 2:00 pm	3:00 pm – 9:30 pm	6:00 am & 7:45 pm
Gangotri Temple	6:00 am – 2:00 pm	3:00 pm – 8:00 pm	6:30 am & 7:30 pm
Kedarnath Temple	7:00 am – 3:00 pm	5:00 pm – 7:00 pm	6:00 am & 8:30 pm
Badrinath Temple	4:30 am – 1:00 pm	1:00 pm – 9:00 pm	4:30 am & 8:30 pm

Timings may shift slightly based on weather, crowd flow, or special religious occasions. Gangotri Temple stays closed between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM daily. Kedarnath stays closed from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Badrinath closes between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

Kedarnath Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Kedarnath Opening Date 2026

The sacred Kapat of Kedarnath Dham will open on 22 April 2026. As per tradition, the idol of the presiding deity — Baba Kedar — is first brought from its winter abode at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, after the traditional Bhairavnath Puja. The idol is then carried in a ceremonial procession to Phata for an overnight stay, then to Guptkashi’s Gauri Mata Temple for one more night, and finally installed at its home in Kedarnath Dham amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns and lakhs of devotees.

In real life, the first few days after opening see massive pilgrim rush. If you’re travelling by helicopter, book your slot well in advance — May slots especially fill within days of opening.

Kedarnath Closing Date 2026

As the Himalayan winter sets in and heavy snowfall begins, the Kapat of Kedarnath closes for six months. The closing date for 2026 is tentatively set for 30 October, coinciding with the festival of Bhai Dooj. The exact closing date will be officially declared on Vijayadashami (Dussehra). After the Kapat closes, the idol of Baba Kedar is shifted back to its winter home at Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, where Darshan continues for devotees through the winter months.

Badrinath Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Badrinath Opening Date 2026

The holy abode of Lord Vishnu, Badrinath Dham, is set to open on 23 April 2026 at 6:00 AM. As always, this date was announced on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami by the royal court of Tehri Naresh in Narendra Nagar. The presiding deity is ceremonially brought back from Joshimath (Pandukeshwar) to the main temple with great devotion, music, and traditional rituals.

Badrinath is the final stop on the traditional Chardham Yatra clockwise circuit. Most helicopter pilgrims from Bangalore spend a full day here — temple darshan in the morning, Tapt Kund holy dip, and a walk to Mana Village (the last Indian village before the Tibet border) in the afternoon.

Badrinath Closing Date 2026

The closing date for Badrinath in 2026 is tentatively set for 13 November, though the exact date is confirmed on Vijayadashami. On the day of closing, a formal farewell ceremony is conducted, and the idol of Lord Vishnu is shifted to Pandukeshwar near Joshimath for winter worship. Pilgrims can continue visiting Joshimath’s Narasimha Temple through the winter as part of the winter Char Dham Yatra.

Gangotri Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Gangotri Opening Date 2026

Gangotri Dham opens on 19 April 2026, coinciding with the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. The idol of Goddess Ganga is brought back with full ceremony from its winter home in Mukhba village — a small, scenic settlement within the town of Harsil, located close to the main Gangotri shrine.

What most people don’t realise is that Gangotri town itself is breathtaking even beyond the temple — the roaring Bhagirathi River, the dense deodar forest, and the high Himalayan backdrop make this one of the most visually stunning Dhams on the circuit.

Gangotri Closing Date 2026

The Kapat of Gangotri Dham will close on 10 November 2026, coinciding with the festival of Deepawali (Diwali). After closing, the idol of Goddess Ganga is returned to Mukhba village for winter. The region gets covered under thick snow within weeks, making access to the shrine impossible until the next season opens.

Yamunotri Temple Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Yamunotri Opening Date 2026

The first stop on the traditional Char Dham route, Yamunotri Dham, opens its Kapat on 19 April 2026 on the holy occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The idol of Goddess Yamuna is ceremonially brought from its winter abode in Kharsali village and reinstalled at the main temple with traditional rituals and music. Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar — believed to bring unending prosperity and good fortune.

The Chardham Yatra traditionally starts from Yamunotri and proceeds east to west — Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. Helicopter pilgrims follow the same clockwise order.

Yamunotri Closing Date 2026

Yamunotri Dham closes for winter on 11 November 2026, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. The idol of Goddess Yamuna is shifted amidst music, celebration, and traditional rituals to her winter home in Kharsali. Darshan continues there for pilgrims as part of the winter Char Dham circuit until the Kapat reopens next spring.

Best Time to Visit Chardham Yatra 2026

Planning around the right window makes a huge difference — not just for weather, but for helicopter availability, crowd levels, and overall experience.

April End – July (Peak Season)

The best time to go on the Char Dham Yatra in 2026 is from the opening dates in late April through July. The weather is pleasant, skies are clear, snow on the higher peaks is still visible, and the temples are freshly open for the season. This is the most popular window — which also means helicopter slots fill up fast. Book 3–4 months in advance for May or June travel.

September – October (Post-Monsoon Sweet Spot)

The monsoon retreats by September and the Himalayas open up again with lush greenery, crystal-clear skies, and cooler temperatures. Fewer crowds, easier helicopter availability, and stunning post-rain Himalayan landscape make this one of the best-kept secrets of the Chardham Yatra. October is particularly good — right before the temples close.

⚠️  July–August: Avoid These Months — The heavy and unpredictable monsoon rainfall makes the Chardham region prone to landslides, cloudburst events, and road closures. Char Dham Yatra by helicopter is temporarily suspended during these months by DGCA and local authorities. The Uttarakhand Police strongly advises against yatra travel in this period.

At any time of year, carry appropriate warm and woollen clothing. These Dham destinations are at high altitudes — Kedarnath sits at 3,583 m and Badrinath at 3,133 m — and remain cold throughout the season, even in summer.

For those who miss the main season, the winter Char Dham circuit at the idol’s winter homes — Joshimath (Badrinath), Ukhimath (Kedarnath), Mukhba (Gangotri), and Kharsali (Yamunotri) — remains accessible and spiritually fulfilling during the off-season months.

Final Word — Plan Early for 2026

The Char Dham Yatra 2026 season is already seeing high demand. With the opening dates confirmed — 19 April for Yamunotri and Gangotri, 22 April for Kedarnath, and 24 April for Badrinath — the pilgrimage window is set. The best slots, be it helicopter packages or hotel bookings near the Dhams, move fast once the season opens.

Register early, check operator certifications, keep buffer days for weather, and travel with the right mindset. The Himalayas will do the rest.