Kedarnath Opening Date 2026: Kapat Opening & Closing Dates, Timings and Yatra Guide

The Kedarnath opening date 2026 was officially announced as 22 April 2026, with the sacred kapat (temple doors) opening at 8:00 AM after traditional Vedic rituals. The announcement was made on Maha Shivratri, 15 February 2026, when the priests of the Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath — Kedarnath's winter abode — finalised the date using the Hindu Panchang, and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) confirmed it. If you are planning the yatra, this page gives you the complete 2026 picture: opening and closing dates, how the dates are decided each year, the ceremonial timeline, registration requirements, trek and helicopter options, and the best windows to visit.

Kedarnath Kapat Opening and Closing Dates 2026

Here are the confirmed dates for the 2026 season, alongside recent years for reference. The temple stays open for roughly six to seven months each year, closing for winter when heavy snow makes the shrine inaccessible.

• Kapat opening 2026: 22 April 2026 at 8:00 AM, announced on Maha Shivratri (15 February 2026).
• Kapat closing 2026: expected around 11 November 2026 on Bhai Dooj — the exact closing date is traditionally announced on Vijayadashami (Dussehra).
• Yatra window 2026: approximately 22 April to 11 November, about seven months.
• 2025 season: opened 2 May 2025, closed 23 October 2025.
• 2024 season: opened 10 May 2024, closed 3 November 2024.

How the Kedarnath Opening Date Is Decided Each Year

Unlike a fixed calendar event, the Kedarnath opening date is determined astrologically every year. During winter, when the temple is snowbound, the deity resides at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. On Maha Shivratri, the temple priests perform Panchang calculations and declare the auspicious opening day, which the BKTC then formally announces. The closing date follows a parallel tradition: it is announced on Vijayadashami and the kapat closes on Bhai Dooj, two days after Diwali, when the deity's palanquin begins the winter journey back to Ukhimath.

All Four Chardham Opening Dates 2026

Kedarnath is one of the four dhams, and pilgrims doing the full Char Dham Yatra plan around all four openings. For 2026, Yamunotri and Gangotri opened together on 19 April 2026, the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Kedarnath followed on 22 April at 8:00 AM. Badrinath opened on 23 April 2026 at 6:15 AM, a date announced on Basant Panchami. The traditional yatra sequence runs west to east — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, then Badrinath — so the staggered openings fit the classic circuit naturally.

The Ceremonial Timeline: Panchmukhi Doli to Kapat Opening

The opening is not a single moment but a multi-day celebration. In 2026, the Panchmukhi Doli — the ceremonial palanquin carrying the deity — departed Ukhimath on 19 April, halted at Gaurikund on 20 April, and reached Kedarnath Dham on 21 April, one day before the doors opened. Thousands of devotees gather at the temple before dawn on opening day to witness the first darshan of the season, which many consider the most spiritually powerful moment of the entire Char Dham Yatra. A parallel procession happens at closing, carrying the deity back down to Ukhimath for winter worship.

Yatra Registration Is Mandatory in 2026

Every pilgrim visiting Kedarnath must complete Char Dham Yatra registration before travelling. Registration is done online through the Uttarakhand tourism department's official portal, where you create a yatra slip with a QR code using a valid photo ID, a recent photograph and a mobile number for OTP verification. Biometric verification is then completed at designated counters in Haridwar, Rishikesh and other entry towns — carry your original ID for this step. The QR-coded slip is checked at multiple points along the route, including the trek checkpoint at Gaurikund, so keep both a printed copy and a phone screenshot. Registrations open a few weeks before the kapat opening, and slots for peak dates in May and June fill quickly, so register as soon as your dates are firm.

Reaching Kedarnath: Trek and Helicopter Options

There is no road to the temple. Pilgrims trek roughly 16 kilometres uphill from Gaurikund to the shrine at 3,583 metres (about 11,755 feet), a walk that takes most people six to eight hours. The trail is well-marked with medical posts, rest shelters and shops along the way, and ponies, palkis and pitthus are available for those who need assistance. Start early in the morning, carry rain protection regardless of the forecast, and spend a night at Guptkashi or Sonprayag before the trek day to acclimatise.

For those short on time or unable to trek, helicopter services operate from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi to Kedarnath, with same-day return options. Heli seats are limited and sell out early in the season — especially around the opening weeks and festival dates — so book as early as possible. Helicopter yatris still need the standard yatra registration. Note that helicopter operations are frequently suspended during the monsoon months of July and August due to weather.

Best Time to Visit Kedarnath in 2026

The recommended windows within the 2026 season are late April to mid-June, when skies are clear and all routes are freshly cleared, and September to end-October, when crowds thin and post-monsoon clarity is at its best. The first two weeks after opening are the coldest, with residual snow on the trek and near-freezing pre-dawn temperatures at the shrine — carry proper winter layers if you go early. July and August bring the monsoon to the hills with landslide risk and frequent road disruptions, and are best avoided. The final week before closing in November offers a quieter, contemplative darshan for those who can time it.

Darshan Timings and Practical Tips

The temple follows a precise daily schedule beginning with Maha Abhishek around 4:00 AM and continuing through the day until the evening aarti. General darshan is free — there is no entry fee, ticket or token for the regular queue. Devotees arriving before mid-afternoon can often touch and anoint the sacred hump-shaped stone with ghee, an intimate ritual unique to Kedarnath among the twelve Jyotirlingas. Special pujas such as Rudra Abhishek can be booked in advance through the official BKTC portal. Carry cash for small purchases along the trek, keep your registration slip accessible at all times, and remember that mobile connectivity is patchy beyond Sonprayag — download offline maps and inform family of your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Kedarnath opening date in 2026?

The Kedarnath kapat opened on 22 April 2026 at 8:00 AM. The date was announced by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Maha Shivratri, 15 February 2026, after Panchang calculations at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.

When will Kedarnath close in 2026?

The temple is expected to close around 11 November 2026 on Bhai Dooj. The exact closing date is traditionally announced on Vijayadashami (Dussehra) each year.

Who announces the Kedarnath opening date?

The priests of the Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath decide the date using the Hindu Panchang on Maha Shivratri, and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) formally announces it.

Is registration mandatory for Kedarnath Yatra 2026?

Yes. All pilgrims must register on the Uttarakhand tourism department's official portal and complete biometric verification at Haridwar, Rishikesh or other designated counters. The QR-coded yatra slip is checked at multiple points including Gaurikund.

How long is the Kedarnath trek?

The trek from Gaurikund to the temple is roughly 16 kilometres each way and takes most pilgrims six to eight hours uphill. Ponies, palkis and pitthus are available, and helicopter services operate from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi.

What are the other Chardham opening dates for 2026?

Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on 19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya), Kedarnath on 22 April 2026, and Badrinath on 23 April 2026 at 6:15 AM.