Char Dham Closing Dates 2026: When Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri Close for Winter

Every year, as the first snow touches the high Himalaya, the four great shrines of Uttarakhand's Char Dham shut their doors. The deity is carried down in a decorated palanquin, the temple is sealed, and for about six months the worship moves to a village lower in the valley.

If you are planning a late-season yatra, or just want to see a closing ceremony, here is what to expect in 2026.

When do the Char Dham temples close in 2026?

The Char Dham close in early to mid-November 2026: Gangotri on Annakoot, Kedarnath and Yamunotri on Bhai Dooj, and Badrinath a few days later. Reports and travel calendars point to roughly 10 to 13 November 2026, but these are expected dates, not official ones.

• Gangotri: traditionally on Annakoot (Govardhan Puja), the day after Diwali. Expected around 10 November 2026.
• Kedarnath: traditionally on Bhai Dooj. Expected around 10-11 November 2026.
• Yamunotri: traditionally on Bhai Dooj, the festival of Yamuna and her brother Yama. Expected around 10-11 November 2026.
• Badrinath: a few days after the others. Reports point to around 13 November 2026.

One reason for the uncertainty: different calendars put Bhai Dooj 2026 on 10 or 11 November. The temple committees settle this with their own panchang calculation. We will update this page as soon as the official dates are announced.

How are the closing dates decided?

Priests and temple committees fix the dates from the Hindu calendar at special ceremonies, usually on Vijayadashami (Dussehra). For Badrinath and Kedarnath, this is done by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).

In 2026, the BKTC has said the Badrinath closing date will be fixed on Vijayadashami, 20 October, after the morning offering to Lord Badri Vishal. On the same day, the schedule of the 'Panch Puja' rituals before closing, and the dates for the palanquins to leave for their winter homes, will also be set. The Gangotri and Yamunotri dates are announced by their own temple committees.

What happens on closing day?

A last special puja, a farewell to the deity, and a slow procession of the palanquin down to its winter home. It is a deeply emotional day for local families, priests and pilgrims.

At Kedarnath, the five-faced festival idol of Shiva is placed in a decorated doli (palanquin) and carried down over two to three days, stopping at villages on the way, to Ukhimath. At Badrinath, the five days before closing are marked by the 'Panch Puja', when shrines inside the complex close one by one; on the last day, the chief priest, dressed as Parvati, brings the goddess Lakshmi into the sanctum to sit beside Badri Vishal for the winter.

Where do the deities spend the winter?

Each deity moves to a winter seat lower in the valley, where daily worship continues and pilgrims can still have darshan.

• Kedarnath: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district)
• Badrinath: Pandukeshwar (idols of Uddhav and Kuber) and Jyotirmath (Narsingh Temple and the seat of Adi Shankaracharya)
• Gangotri: Mukhba village, near Harsil
• Yamunotri: Kharsali village, across the river from Janki Chatti

A winter yatra to these four seats has become popular in recent years. They are open all winter and much easier to reach than the high shrines. If you are visiting Jyotirmath, it is a short drive up to the snow slopes of Auli.

Should you do the yatra in November?

Yes, if you are well prepared, but expect cold, fewer services and quick weather changes. The last two weeks before closing are quiet and beautiful, and closing day itself is crowded with people who come to see the ceremony.

• Nights at Kedarnath and Badrinath fall well below freezing in November. Carry proper winter clothing.
• Many dhabas, ponies and helicopter services wind down in the last week.
• Keep one or two spare days; an early snowfall can close roads for a day.
• Check the official BKTC and Uttarakhand Tourism announcements before you leave.

When do the temples open again?

In late April or May 2027. Gangotri and Yamunotri usually open on Akshaya Tritiya. The Kedarnath date is announced on Mahashivratri at Ukhimath, and the Badrinath date on Basant Panchami at the Narendra Nagar palace. We will publish the 2027 opening dates as soon as they are announced.