Char Dham Opening Date

Overview

The Char Dham opening dates mark the beginning of the annual pilgrimage season in the Garhwal Himalayas. The four temples remain closed for five to six months through winter (November–April), when deep snow makes them inaccessible and the deities are moved to their respective winter abodes at lower altitudes. The kapaat kholna (opening of the temple doors) is one of the most celebrated events in the Hindu religious calendar — attended by thousands of devotees and broadcast live across India.

The Char Dham opening date 2026 is determined by Akshaya Tritiya — the third lunar day (Tritiya) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Vaishakh month in the Hindu calendar. In 2026, Akshaya Tritiya falls on 29 April 2026.

Note: Exact 2026 opening dates are officially announced by the Devasthanam Board 6–8 weeks before the season. The table above shows expected dates based on the Hindu Panchang for 2026. Confirm at the official Uttarakhand Tourism website before booking.

How to Reach

Planning travel around the Char Dham opening date requires early preparation — the first few days after opening are the most crowded and logistically demanding of the entire season:

• Kedarnath registration for opening week dates (April 29 – May 7) is the most competitive. The portal opens in February and first-week slots are typically exhausted within 24–48 hours.
• Arrive in Haridwar one day before your first dham — e.g., reach Haridwar on April 28 for an April 29 opening day at Yamunotri or Gangotri.
• Book accommodation at Barkot (Yamunotri base) and Uttarkashi (Gangotri base) 2–3 months in advance — these small towns are fully booked for opening weekend.
• For Kedarnath opening day, the approach from Guptkashi/Sonprayag is heavily managed. Expect strict vehicle controls and time-slotted access to Gaurikund. Helicopter slots for April 29 are the rarest of the entire season.
• Road to Badrinath: The Badrinath highway (NH-58) is officially cleared and opened by BRO a few days before the temple opening. Confirm road status before departure.

Best Time

The Char Dham opening date itself is unquestionably one of the best times to visit — if you can manage the crowds and logistics:

Opening Day (Akshaya Tritiya) — Highest Significance: The kapaat kholne ka muhurat (auspicious moment for opening the doors) is observed with elaborate puja, Vedic chanting and processional rituals. At Kedarnath, the idol is carried from Ukhimath to the temple in a palanquin (doli) over two days, accompanied by priests, musicians and thousands of devotees. The first darshan after the 6-month closure is deeply moving.

First Week After Opening: Spiritually charged, snow-covered landscape, freshest puja flowers. The tradeoff is massive crowds — expect 20,000–50,000 daily visitors at Kedarnath in opening week. Darshan queues of 4–8 hours are common.

Second and Third Week of May: The initial opening rush subsides slightly. Still very popular but darshan queues are shorter. An excellent compromise between spiritual energy and manageable crowds.

Travel Tips

Opening day Char Dham travel — critical advice:

• Register 60–90 days early: For April 29 opening day Kedarnath registration, begin monitoring the portal in February. Set phone alerts for when the slot booking goes live.
• Kedarnath opening day helicopter: Extremely limited slots on April 29. Book via heliyatra.irctc.co.in the day the portal opens — these are the most contested helicopter slots of the year.
• Carry your registration slip + ID even if you're an early arrival — check posts are strictly enforced on opening day with additional police deployment.
• Be at Gaurikund by 4:00 AM on opening day if trekking — starting early beats the crowd and gets you to the temple before the main rush. The Kedarnath opening puja begins around 6:00–7:00 AM.
• Winter-ready gear is essential: At opening time, Kedarnath (3,583m) has heavy snow surrounding the temple and temperatures of -5°C at dawn. Pack full winter kit — thermals, down jacket, waterproof boots, gloves and balaclava.
• Pahadi doli (palanquin): If trekking is difficult, doli (chair carried by four men) from Gaurikund to Kedarnath costs ₹3,500–₹5,000 on opening days and must be pre-booked through the local union in Gaurikund.
• Accommodation is scarce on opening night: Most devotees stay at tent camps or dharamshalas near the Kedarnath temple — book GMVN tents 2–3 months ahead or arrive planning to return same day (doable with helicopter).

What happens at the Char Dham opening ceremony:

FAQs

What is the Char Dham opening date 2026?

The Char Dham opening date 2026 is 29 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya) for Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath. Badrinath opens 1–3 days later on an auspicious muhurat. Exact confirmed dates are announced 6–8 weeks before opening by the Devasthanam Board and Uttarakhand Tourism.

When is Akshaya Tritiya 2026?

Akshaya Tritiya 2026 falls on 29 April 2026 — the third lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. This is the day Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri traditionally open, making it one of the most auspicious dates in the Hindu calendar for pilgrimage.

Which Char Dham temple opens first?

Yamunotri and Gangotri typically open first on Akshaya Tritiya, followed by Kedarnath on the same day (with the muhurat set by astrologers). Badrinath opens 1–4 days after Kedarnath — the exact date is declared by the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya based on the astrological Panchang.