Char Dham Yatra Opening Dates 2027

Opening and closing at a glance

The Char Dham temples stay open for roughly six months each year. Snow closes the high valleys in winter, and the deities are carried down to their winter seats, where worship continues until spring. The "kapat" or doors of each shrine reopen on an auspicious day chosen by the priests, which is why you will not find the 2027 dates on any calendar until they are formally declared.

2026 opening dates, for reference

Looking at the season that is now ending helps you understand the order in which the temples open. In 2026 the yatra began on Akshaya Tritiya with the two shrines of the Uttarkashi district, and the Shiva and Vishnu temples followed within days.

Closing follows the festival calendar too: Gangotri shuts on Annakoot (Govardhan Puja), Kedarnath and Yamunotri on Bhai Dooj, and Badrinath last of all on a date announced on Vijayadashami. If you are reading this in early November 2026 and hoping to squeeze in a late darshan, check the latest announcement with us before you travel; the final days are cold and the hotels in Badrinath start shutting.

How each temple's date is decided

Yamunotri and Gangotri: Akshaya Tritiya

Both shrines in the Uttarkashi district traditionally open on Akshaya Tritiya, which falls in late April or early May. The idol of Goddess Yamuna travels up from her winter home at Kharsali, close to Janki Chatti, and the doli of Goddess Ganga comes from Mukhba near Harsil. The precise muhurat (hour) is set by the temple priests and shared shortly before the day.

Kedarnath: declared on Mahashivratri

On Mahashivratri, priests at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, where Lord Kedarnath is worshipped through the winter, calculate the opening day. A few days before it, the Panchmukhi doli sets off on foot via Guptkashi and Gaurikund to reach Kedarnath, and the doors open early in the morning. Pilgrims who plan their Kedarnath yatra for opening week should expect very large crowds.

Badrinath: declared on Basant Panchami

Badrinath's date is announced on Basant Panchami at the royal palace at Narendranagar near Rishikesh, after the horoscope is consulted. The utsav doli travels up from Pandukeshwar and Jyotirmath, and the temple opens a day or two after Kedarnath in most years. See our Badrinath tour package for how the trip runs.

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Planning a 2027 yatra before dates are out

You do not need to wait for the declarations to start planning. Akshaya Tritiya can be found in any Hindu calendar, and Kedarnath and Badrinath almost always open within a week or so of it. That gives a dependable window for booking leave and train tickets.

1. Pick a month, not a date. Choose May–June or mid-September–October, the two best windows. Read best time to visit for the trade-offs.
2. Watch the January–March announcements. Badrinath's date comes on Basant Panchami and Kedarnath's on Mahashivratri.
3. Register as soon as registration opens. It is free and mandatory; see the registration guide.
4. Book hotels early for May. The first four to six weeks are the busiest of the year.
5. Plan the Kedarnath helicopter, if any. Shuttle seats open on IRCTC HeliYatra only after registration; read IRCTC helicopter booking.

2027 estimates for a group of four on budget hotels (helicopter price is per person on a charter). Final quotes depend on dates, hotels and group size.

Is it worth going in the opening week?

Being present when the doors open after six months is a moving experience, and many devotees plan years for it. It is also the most crowded and expensive time of the season. Expect long darshan queues, full hotels in Guptkashi and Barkot, traffic on the Rishikesh–Srinagar road and snow at the higher shrines.

• Go in opening week if the ceremony itself matters to you and your group is fit and patient.
• Wait two to three weeks if you are travelling with elders or children; the queues settle and the snow recedes.
• Consider October if you want clear skies and calm darshan before closing.
• Pack heavier woollens for late April and early May; nights at Kedarnath fall below freezing. Our packing list covers this.

Where to worship after closing

When the temples shut, worship moves to the winter seats lower in the valleys. These are reachable by road for much of the winter, though snowfall can interrupt travel.

For the main yatra route and how the shrines connect, see the Char Dham route map, or start with the overview in all about the Char Dham Yatra.

Char Dham opening dates: FAQ

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