When does Kedarnath Yatra 2026 start?

Kedarnath Yatra 2026 is expected to start on 29 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya). The official opening date is confirmed by the Kedarnath Devasthanam Temple Committee 6–8 weeks in advance and announced on badrikedar.org. Yatra closes on Bhai Dooj — expected 22 October 2026. Registration opens well before the season — check registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in for the live registration portal.

How do I register for Kedarnath Yatra?

Register for Kedarnath Yatra at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in — the official Uttarakhand government portal. Registration is free and mandatory for all pilgrims. You need a valid photo ID (Aadhaar/Passport/Voter ID), a recent passport photograph and your travel dates. Pilgrims aged 60+ need an additional medical fitness certificate. After registration, download the slip — carry it printed or saved offline.

What is the Kedarnath Yatra itinerary?

Standard 3-night Kedarnath Yatra itinerary: Day 0 — Arrive Haridwar, overnight. Day 1 — Haridwar to Guptkashi by road (175 km, 6–7 hrs), overnight in Guptkashi (acclimatisation). Day 2 — Guptkashi to Gaurikund (45 km), trek 16 km to Kedarnath (6–8 hrs), overnight at Kedarnath (GMVN tent). Day 3 — Morning Pratah Aarti, darshan, descend to Gaurikund (4–5 hrs), drive back to Guptkashi or Haridwar. Helicopter variant compresses Days 2–3 into a single day.

Kedarnath Yatra

Overview

Kedarnath Yatra is the pilgrimage to Kedarnath — one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, the third and most challenging dham of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra circuit. Situated at 3,583 m in the Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath is accessible only by a 16 km mountain trek or helicopter — a physical journey that has been integral to the spiritual experience of this pilgrimage for over a millennium.

The Kedarnath Yatra 2026 season opens on Akshaya Tritiya (expected 29 April 2026) and closes on Bhai Dooj (expected 22 October 2026). Over 10 lakh pilgrims complete the yatra each season, making it one of the largest organised religious journeys in the world.

Key Kedarnath Yatra 2026 details at a glance:

Detail	Information
Opening date 2026	~29 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)
Closing date 2026	~22 October 2026 (Bhai Dooj)
Registration	Free, mandatory — registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
Daily pilgrim cap	~12,000–15,000 pilgrims/day
Trek distance	16 km from Gaurikund
Trek difficulty	Moderate-Difficult (1,601 m ascent)
Helicopter option	From Phata/Guptkashi/Sirsi (10 min, ₹4,500–₹8,000/person OW)
Best base	Guptkashi (35 km from Sonprayag, 3-star hotels)
Best months	May (opening) and September (post-monsoon)
Minimum trip duration	2 days from Haridwar (day trip by helicopter)
Recommended duration	3 nights (1 Guptkashi + 1–2 Kedarnath)

How to Reach

The Kedarnath Yatra route from Haridwar:

Day 0 — Arrive Haridwar: Fly or train to Haridwar/Rishikesh. Train recommended (Delhi Shatabdi, 4.5 hrs). Haridwar is the traditional starting point for Char Dham and Kedarnath yatras. Attend Haridwar Ganga Aarti (7:00 PM daily at Har Ki Pauri) on arrival evening.
Day 1 — Haridwar to Guptkashi (175 km, 6–7 hrs): Hire a private vehicle (₹5,000–₹8,000) or shared taxi. Route: Rishikesh → Devprayag (confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi) → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Agastmuni → Kund → Guptkashi. Arrive Guptkashi afternoon. Visit Vishwanath temple and Ardh Narishwar temple in the evening. Overnight Guptkashi — essential acclimatisation at 1,319 m.
Day 2 — Trek Day (Guptkashi → Gaurikund → Kedarnath): Pre-dawn breakfast at hotel (5:00–5:30 AM). Drive to Sonprayag (45 km, 1 hr). Government shuttle jeep to Gaurikund (5 km, 20 min). Start trek by 6:00 AM — reach Kedarnath by 12:00–2:00 PM. Afternoon: Sandhya Aarti (5 PM). Evening: Shayan Aarti (8:30 PM). Overnight at Kedarnath (GMVN tents ₹1,200–₹2,500, or private guesthouse ₹800–₹2,000).
Day 3 — Pratah Aarti + Descent: Wake at 3:30 AM. Pratah Aarti (4:00–6:00 AM) — the most sacred experience of the entire yatra. Visit Gandhi Sarovar and Shankaracharya Samadhi after aarti. Begin descent by 8:00–9:00 AM. Reach Gaurikund by 1:00–2:00 PM. Drive back to Guptkashi or continue to Haridwar/next dham.

Best Time

May — Opening Season (Most Sacred, Coldest): The opening ceremony on Akshaya Tritiya is attended by thousands. First weeks have snow on upper trek. Maximum spiritual significance, maximum crowds. Book 60–90 days ahead. Ideal for devout first-timers who want the full opening season experience.
June — Good Month (Weather Improving): More comfortable temperatures, snow clearing. Rain from mid-June — rain gear essential. Good availability of hotels and helicopter. Recommended if May is fully booked.
September — Best Overall Month: Post-monsoon, clear skies, dry trail, 0°C–12°C at temple, exceptional mountain views, lower rates. Expert recommendation for anyone planning their first Kedarnath Yatra. Book 3–4 weeks ahead.
October — Pre-Closing (Spiritually Significant): Cold (−5°C–8°C), clear, possible late-month snowfall. Bhai Dooj closing ceremony is a deeply moving event attended by devout pilgrims. For those who want a less crowded, more contemplative experience. Heavy winter gear mandatory.

Travel Tips

Kedarnath Yatra preparation — the most important points:

Register early, not at the last minute: Kedarnath registration at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in is free and opens well before the season. Complete it as soon as your dates are decided — daily pilgrim caps mean late registrations can be denied entry on specific peak dates.
Guptkashi overnight is not optional: Going directly from Haridwar to Gaurikund in one day (175 km road + 16 km trek) is physically dangerous — fatigue + altitude = serious risk. One night in Guptkashi for partial acclimatisation reduces altitude sickness risk significantly. This is the single most important logistics tip for first-timers.
Start the trek by 5–6 AM: The 16 km trek takes 6–8 hrs. Starting before 7 AM means arriving at the temple by early afternoon, well before evening aarti time, giving you time to check in, rest, and attend both the Sandhya Aarti and Shayan Aarti. Starting after 9 AM is a common beginner mistake — you arrive exhausted in the evening with no time to rest.
Carry cash beyond Guptkashi: ATMs are available in Guptkashi but unreliable in Sonprayag and Gaurikund, and non-existent at Kedarnath. Carry enough cash (₹3,000–₹5,000 per person) for the trek day and temple stay — food, porter tip, puja donation, shuttle fares.
Puja booking in advance: The Pratah Abhishek (₹3,500–₹5,000) allows you into the inner sanctum during the 4 AM ritual. This is one of the most sought-after religious experiences in all of India. Book on badrikedar.org — don't leave it to chance on arrival.
Kedarnath Yatra as part of Char Dham: If doing Kedarnath as part of the full Char Dham Yatra, it is the third dham (after Yamunotri and Gangotri), followed by Badrinath. The standard Char Dham itinerary allocates 3 nights for the Kedarnath section. See the Char Dham itinerary guide.

FAQs

When does Kedarnath Yatra 2026 start?: Kedarnath Yatra 2026 is expected to start on 29 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya). Official confirmation on badrikedar.org 6–8 weeks before opening. Yatra closes on Bhai Dooj — approximately 22 October 2026. Registration opens at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in well before the season.
How do I register for Kedarnath Yatra?: Register at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in (official government portal). It is free and mandatory. Required: photo ID (Aadhaar/Passport/Voter ID) + passport photo + travel dates. Pilgrims 60+ need a medical fitness certificate. Download the registration slip — carry it printed or saved offline. No registration = no entry at Sonprayag checkpoint.
What is the Kedarnath Yatra itinerary?: Standard Kedarnath Yatra itinerary (3 nights from Haridwar): Day 0 — arrive Haridwar. Day 1 — Haridwar to Guptkashi (175 km, overnight). Day 2 — Guptkashi → Gaurikund (early morning) → trek 16 km to Kedarnath (6–8 hrs) → overnight at Kedarnath. Day 3 — Pratah Aarti (4 AM) → darshan → descend Gaurikund → return to Haridwar or next dham.