The Kedarnath closing date for 2026 is the morning of Wednesday, 11 November 2026, which is Bhai Dooj. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra confirmed the date to ANI on 23 October.
After the closing puja, the doli (palanquin) of Baba Kedar goes down to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, where winter worship happens until the shrine reopens in late April or May 2027.
If you are planning a last darshan this season, you have about ten days. The rest of this guide covers the other Char Dham closing dates, what the last week on the trek is like, and how the 2027 opening date gets fixed.
Kedarnath closing date 2026 at a glance
- Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2026 (Bhai Dooj)
- Time: Morning. Several travel sites give 8:30 am, but the ANI report quoting the District Magistrate says only "the morning of 11 November". [CHECK closing time with BKTC notice]
- Winter seat: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district)
- Reopening: Late April or May 2027, around Akshaya Tritiya. The exact date is announced on Mahashivratri.
Char Dham closing dates 2026: All four shrines
Gangotri closes first and Badrinath last. If you want to see more than one dham before winter, plan around Badrinath, which stays open five days longer than Kedarnath.
Dham | Closing date 2026 | Closing time | Occasion | Winter seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gangotri | Tue, 10 Nov | 12:05 pm | Annakut / Govardhan Puja | Mukhwa |
Kedarnath | Wed, 11 Nov | Morning | Bhai Dooj | Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath |
Yamunotri | Wed, 11 Nov | 10:28 am | Bhai Dooj | Kharsali |
Badrinath | Mon, 16 Nov | 9:37 pm | Fixed on Vijayadashami | Yog Badri, Pandukeshwar and Narsingh Temple, Joshimath |
Dates are as reported by ANI, Free Press Journal and Asianet News (October 2026). Approx., as of November 2026.
The Badrinath closing date was fixed on Vijayadashami (20 October 2026) after a panchang reading at the temple, as per tradition.
Kedarnath and Yamunotri follow Bhai Dooj, and Gangotri follows Annakut in Diwali week. With Diwali on Sunday, 8 November this year, all four closings fall in a single week.
Is Kedarnath open now?
Yes. Kedarnath is open until the morning of 11 November 2026. It opened on 22 April 2026 at 8 am. The 2026 opening date was announced on Mahashivratri, 15 February 2026.
The season has been busy. Tourism Department figures reported by ETV Bharat show 16.78 lakh pilgrims at Kedarnath up to 7 October 2026, and 56.89 lakh across all four Dhams. That beats the 2023 record.
How do the closing dates compare with past years?
Year | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|
2026 | 22 April | 11 November |
2025 | 2 May | 23 October |
2024 | 10 May | 3 November |
Because Bhai Dooj moves with the lunar calendar, the Kedarnath closing date can shift by almost three weeks from one year to the next. 2026 is a late year, which gives you a few extra days in early November.
Planning a Kedarnath yatra in the last week
With the Kedarnath closing date in 2026 falling in mid-November, the last week is cold. Expect sub-zero nights and the chance of early snow.
Registration
Registration is mandatory and free for every pilgrim. In 2026 it is Aadhaar-based, and you can do it on the Uttarakhand Tourism registration portal, on WhatsApp (send "Yatra" to 8394833833), or at the counters in Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Trek
The walk from Gaurikund to the temple is 16 km. Most people take 6 to 9 hours to go up. Gaurikund is about 5 km from Sonprayag, and shared shuttles run between the two. Start early, because daylight is short in November.
Helicopter
Book helicopter tickets only on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal, and you need a valid yatra registration to do it. At the start of the 2026 season, the one-way base fares per person, before GST, were roughly:
- Guptkashi: ₹6,077
- Phata: ₹4,840
- Sirsi: ₹3,043
Tickets are sold as round trips, so expect to pay a little over double these figures once GST is added. Approx., as of April 2026. Weather often grounds flights in November, and services may wind down before the closing day. Keep a buffer day.
Stay
Rooms at Kedarnath and Sonprayag fill up in the last few days, as many devotees want to see the closing ceremony. If you want to be there for the closing puja, book at least two nights near the temple.
If you would rather leave the logistics to someone else, TravelBudgetly's Chardham Heli Yatra with Kedarnath stay and Do Dham Yatra by helicopter packages include registration support and helicopter seats for the 2027 season.
Kedarnath to Badrinath before 16 November
Missed Kedarnath, or want to see two Dhams? Badrinath stays open until 9:37 pm on 16 November. The road from the Kedarnath side (Sonprayag or Guptkashi) to Badrinath via Rudraprayag and Joshimath usually takes a full day.
Check road status on Uttarakhand Police or district updates before you set out, because landslides and early snow can close stretches at short notice.
What happens after Kedarnath closes?
Once the doors close, the doli of Baba Kedar is carried down to Ukhimath over a few days. It stops overnight on the way.
For the next six months, you can have darshan of Kedarnath at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, which can be reached by road all winter. Ukhimath is a good add-on to a winter trip to Chopta.
Interest in this winter pilgrimage has grown in recent years, according to the Rudraprayag administration. If you want to travel in the off season, see our list of the best places to visit in December in India for snow and pilgrimage options.
Kedarnath opening date 2027: When it will be announced
The opening date for Kedarnath is announced each year on Mahashivratri at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, after priests consult the panchang. The date usually falls around Akshaya Tritiya, in late April or May. For 2026, the announcement came on 15 February and the temple opened on 22 April.
Expect the 2027 date to be announced on Mahashivratri 2027. The Badrinath opening date is announced separately on Basant Panchami. We will update this page once both are out. To plan a full Char Dham yatra, see our Uttarakhand packages or all packages.
FAQs
Is Kedarnath open now?
Yes, until the morning of Wednesday, 11 November 2026. After that, the temple stays shut for winter. You can have darshan of Baba Kedar at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath until the doors reopen in 2027.
When will Kedarnath temple open in 2027?
The 2027 date is not out yet. It will be announced on Mahashivratri 2027 and will most likely fall in late April or May, around Akshaya Tritiya.
How to reach Kedarnath from Delhi?
Take a train or bus from Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh. From there, go by road via Rudraprayag and Guptkashi to Sonprayag, then take a shuttle to Gaurikund and walk 16 km to the temple. You can also fly by helicopter from Guptkashi, Phata or Sirsi.
How to book a helicopter for Kedarnath?
First complete your yatra registration. Then book on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal, which is the only official booking channel. Authorities have warned pilgrims about fake helicopter booking websites, so never pay through social media ads or WhatsApp links.
