The Char Dham temples open in late April and close in early-to-mid November – the shrines sit under deep snow the rest of the year, and each deity winters at a lower “winter seat” temple. Dates are fixed per year by ritual calendar and announced on the official portals; the closing dates are finalised around Vijayadashami. Last verified: October 2026.
2026 season – the dates as announced
| Shrine | Opened | Closing (2026) | Winter seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 20 April (Akshaya Tritiya) | ~11 November | Kharsali |
| Gangotri | 20 April | ~10-11 November (Diwali) | Mukhba |
| Kedarnath | 22 April | ~11 November (Bhai Dooj) | Ukhimath (Omkareshwar) |
| Badrinath | 23 April | ~13 November | Joshimath (Jyotirmath) |
Hemkund Sahib runs its own, shorter, snow-gated season – typically late May-early June to early October.
2027 season – what to expect
Expect the same pattern: openings in the last week of April, around Akshaya Tritiya, with Kedarnath and Badrinath following one to three days later; closings in the Diwali-Bhai Dooj window (early-to-mid November). Treat the exact dates as unconfirmed until the Uttarakhand government announces them – typically in the winter months before the season.
How the dates are set
- Openings: the kapat (portal) opening is fixed by the temple committees on auspicious days at each shrine – Akshaya Tritiya anchors Yamunotri and Gangotri.
- Closings: announced around Vijayadashami; Yamunotri and Gangotri close around Diwali, Kedarnath on Bhai Dooj, Badrinath a few days later, each with a closing ceremony (the deity’s doli leaves for the winter seat the same evening).
- Winter darshan: devotion continues at the winter seats – Ukhimath, Joshimath, Mukhba and Kharsali – through the closed months.
Before you book anything
- Confirm current dates on the official portals (registration is mandatory and free).
- Match your window: May-June and September-October are the classic ones.
- Build a buffer day for monsoon and winter legs (hill-driving discipline).
