Kedarnath Temple Opening Date 2026 (Confirmed): Akshaya Tritiya Schedule & First Darshan

Char Dham 2026 opening and closing dates

How the dates are set

They are not fixed calendar dates - they are announced fresh each year on the Hindu calendar, which is why last year's dates are no guide to this year's.

• Kedarnath is announced on Maha Shivratri.

• Badrinath is announced on Basant Panchami.

• Yamunotri and Gangotri open on Akshaya Tritiya, which is why they share a date.

Closing follows the same pattern: Badrinath's date is declared on Vijayadashami, Gangotri shuts on Diwali, and Kedarnath and Yamunotri close on Yama Dwitiya (Bhai Dooj).

What this means for planning

The opening week and the closing week are the two busiest periods of the year, and also the two least reliable - snow can delay the Kedarnath and Yamunotri trails at either end. If your dates are flexible, mid-May to mid-June and mid-September to October give you open shrines, settled roads and materially lower rates.

The July-August monsoon stays open but brings landslide closures of a few hours on the upper stretches. Build in a buffer day if you travel then.

Before you book

Char Dham registration is mandatory and is checked at the barriers - do it at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. Helicopter seats for Kedarnath are separate again, sold only through heliyatra.irctc.co.in.

Dates above are the announced 2026 schedule. Temple committee announcements are the final word, so we confirm them with BKTC before every departure we run.

Call +91-977-976-6740 or send an enquiry and we will quote your actual dates, actual vehicle and a firm total.