Chardham Yatra Opening & Closing Dates 2026 — All 4 Dhams Confirmed

✅  2026 Kapat Dates — Officially Confirmed

19 April 2026: Yamunotri Dham opens  |  19 April 2026: Gangotri Dham opens22 April 2026: Kedarnath Dham opens  |  23 or 24 April 2026: Badrinath Dham opens (to be confirmed)Registration opens: 6 March 2026 at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in

For the millions of pilgrims who plan their year around the Chardham Yatra, two dates matter above all others: the day the temples open and the day they close. Everything else — transport bookings, leave applications, hotel reservations, helicopter schedules — builds outward from those two anchors.

For 2026, the confirmed Kapat opening dates place the start of the yatra season in the third week of April. Yamunotri and Gangotri open together on 19 April, Kedarnath follows on 22 April, and Badrinath opens on 23 or 24 April. The full sequence from first shrine to last runs across just six days — meaning pilgrims who plan the complete Chardham circuit need their registration and travel arrangements in place weeks before 19 April.

This page covers confirmed opening dates, expected closing dates, daily darshan timings for each shrine, the traditional sequence for completing all four dhams, and the key planning decisions triggered by each date.

Chardham Yatra 2026 — Confirmed Opening Dates for All 4 Dhams

📌  How Kapat Dates Are Determined

Yamunotri and Gangotri open on Akshaya Tritiya — the third day of the Vaishakha month in the Hindu lunar calendar, considered one of the most auspicious days of the year. In 2026, Akshaya Tritiya falls on 19 April. Kedarnath’s Kapat date is set by the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya and announced on Mahashivratri; in 2026 this falls on 22 April. Badrinath’s opening date — 23 or 24 April — is declared by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) and will be confirmed in March 2026.

Dham by Dham — What to Know About Each Opening

Yamunotri — Opens 19 April 2026

Yamunotri is traditionally the first dham visited in the Chardham circuit — the source of the Yamuna river, located in the Uttarkashi district at 3,291 metres. The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya each year, and the Kapat opening ceremony at Yamunotri begins with a procession from the winter seat of the deity at Kharsali village.

The approach to Yamunotri involves a 6-kilometre trek from Janki Chatti. Unlike Kedarnath, the Yamunotri route has no helicopter service — all pilgrims make the trek on foot, by horse, or by palanquin. There is no road access to the shrine itself. The first week after opening sees moderate crowds; the rush builds through the last two weeks of April and peaks sharply in May.

• Trek distance from Janki Chatti: 6 km one way (approximately 4–5 hours at pilgrim pace).
• Registration checkpoint: Hanuman Chatti and Janki Chatti entry gates.
• Best time to visit: Opening week (19–26 April) for smaller queues, or September for post-monsoon calm.

Gangotri — Opens 19 April 2026

Gangotri opens on the same date as Yamunotri — 19 April — as both shrines follow the Akshaya Tritiya calendar. Gangotri sits at 3,048 metres on the banks of the Bhagirathi river, the primary source tributary of the Ganga, in the Uttarkashi district.

Unlike Yamunotri, Gangotri is accessible by road — the temple complex is reachable from Uttarkashi by a 100-kilometre drive on NH 108. Pilgrims who visit both Yamunotri and Gangotri in the same trip typically spend one night at Janki Chatti for Yamunotri and then drive to Gangotri the following day via Uttarkashi, a route that covers roughly 230 kilometres.

• No trek required — the temple sits directly on the road.
• Registration checkpoint: Hina, approximately 26 km before Gangotri town.
• Best time to visit: First two weeks of May or mid-September through early October.

Kedarnath — Opens 22 April 2026

Kedarnath’s 2026 Kapat opening on 22 April falls three days after Yamunotri and Gangotri. The timing is intentional — pilgrims completing the traditional circuit in sequence arrive at Kedarnath after visiting the first two dhams, and the three-day gap gives them time to travel from Uttarkashi to Sonprayag.

The Kapat opening ceremony at Kedarnath begins at Ukhimath (Omkareshwar Temple) — where the deity resides through the winter — and the ceremonial procession reaches Kedarnath by 22 April. The first darshan of the 2026 season takes place at the 5 AM aarthi on the morning of 22 April, witnessed by the pilgrims and priests who have trekked up in the days immediately preceding the opening.

Kedarnath is the highest of the four dhams at 3,583 metres and the most visited — it is the shrine that drives the largest volume of Chardham registration searches each season. Its 18-kilometre trek from Gaurikund, combined with the daily pilgrim cap, means registration for peak Kedarnath dates fills faster than any other dham.

• Trek distance from Gaurikund: 18 km one way (6–8 hours at typical pilgrim pace, or 30 minutes by helicopter).
• Registration checkpoint: Sonprayag barrier — entry not permitted without a valid yatra parchi QR code.
• Daily pilgrim cap: Enforced — arrive at Sonprayag before 6 AM during peak May weeks.
• Best time to visit Kedarnath: Opening week (22–30 April), or September after monsoon clears.

Badrinath — Opens 23 or 24 April 2026

Badrinath is the final dham in the traditional Chardham sequence and the last to open each season. The 2026 opening falls on 23 or 24 April — the exact date is announced by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) in March and will be confirmed at Kedarnath Tourism as soon as it is officially declared.

Badrinath sits at 3,133 metres in the Chamoli district on the banks of the Alaknanda river, reachable by road from Rishikesh via NH 7. The Kapat opening ceremony at Badrinath begins with the Narada Kund bathing ritual at 4:15 AM, followed by the formal opening of the temple doors and the first aarthi of the season.

Badrinath is unique among the four dhams in that it has no trek — the temple is accessible directly by road. This makes it the most accessible dham for elderly and mobility-limited pilgrims, and its accommodation infrastructure at Badrinath town is the most developed of the four.

• Road access directly to the temple — no trek required.
• Registration checkpoint: Pandukeshwar, approximately 24 km before Badrinath.
• Best time to visit: Late April through May, or September through mid-October.

Daily Darshan Timings — All 4 Dhams

These are standard operating timings during the yatra season. Timings on the Kapat opening day and on major festival days may vary. Always verify through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app before planning your arrival time at each shrine.

Note on Kedarnath: The 4:00 AM Abhishek aarthi is accessible to a limited number of VIP darshan ticket holders. General darshan begins at 6:00 AM. The afternoon closure from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM is strictly observed — no entry is permitted during this window regardless of registration status.

The Traditional Chardham Circuit — Recommended Sequence & Travel Days

The traditional order for completing all four dhams is west to east: Yamunotri first, Gangotri second, Kedarnath third, and Badrinath last. This sequence has a practical logic rooted in road connectivity — each dham leads naturally into the next via the Himalayan highway network. Reversing the order increases travel time and complexity significantly.

With the 2026 opening dates spread across just six days (19 April to 23–24 April), pilgrims beginning the circuit on 19 April at Yamunotri and following the traditional sequence can complete all four dhams in approximately 10 to 12 days, with the final darshan at Badrinath falling in the last week of April.

Minimum realistic timeline for the full Chardham circuit: 10 days from Haridwar and back. Most pilgrims allow 12 to 14 days to account for weather delays, acclimatisation time, and the Kedarnath trek recovery day.

Chardham Yatra Closing Dates 2026 — When Do the Temples Close?

The Chardham temples close each year before the onset of the Himalayan winter, when heavy snowfall makes the high-altitude routes inaccessible. The closing ceremony — also called Kapat closing — follows the Hindu calendar and typically falls in October or November.

Yamunotri and Gangotri — Close on Diwali (October 2026)

Yamunotri and Gangotri traditionally close on Diwali, when the deities are ceremonially carried to their respective winter seats — Yamunotri’s deity returns to Kharsali village, and Gangotri’s deity travels to Mukhba village near Harsil. Exact 2026 Diwali dates will be confirmed by the temple trusts in the weeks prior.

Kedarnath — Closes on Bhai Dooj (November 2026)

Kedarnath closes two days after Diwali, on Bhai Dooj. The Kapat closing ceremony at Kedarnath is one of the most significant events of the yatra calendar — the temple doors close with great ceremony and the sacred Shivalinga is wrapped for the winter. The Kedarnath deity then makes the journey to Ukhimath, where winter prayers continue for six months until the 2027 Kapat opening.

Badrinath — Closes on Bhai Dooj or Dev Diwali (November 2026)

Badrinath typically closes on Bhai Dooj or Dev Diwali — the exact 2026 date is announced by the BKTC in October. After the Kapat closes, the temple remains sealed until the following year’s opening. Badrinath’s closing ceremony includes the ceremonial locking of the temple doors and the final aarthi, attended by the Rawal (chief priest) and the remaining pilgrims of the season.

📅  2026 Closing Dates — Summary

Yamunotri: Diwali (October 2026 — exact date TBC)Gangotri: Diwali (October 2026 — exact date TBC)Kedarnath: Bhai Dooj (November 2026 — exact date TBC)Badrinath: Bhai Dooj / Dev Diwali (November 2026 — exact date TBC)All confirmed closing dates will be updated at Kedarnath Tourism as soon as they are officially announced.

What These Dates Mean for Your Planning — Action Points

If You Want the Opening Day Experience (19 April / 22 April)

Attending the Kapat opening ceremony is one of the most spiritually charged experiences the yatra offers — the first aarthi of the season, the ceremonial procession, and the crowds that have gathered specifically for this moment. To be present at Yamunotri or Gangotri on 19 April, or at Kedarnath on 22 April, you need to register by mid-March and book Sonprayag or Janki Chatti accommodation by early April. Both the Kedarnath trek route accommodation and the Gaurikund guesthouses fill completely within days of opening.

If You Are Visiting in May (Peak Season)

May is when the Chardham pilgrimage reaches its highest intensity. School holidays and summer travel converge with the post-opening surge, and Kedarnath in particular operates at or near its daily pilgrim cap from the first week of May through mid-June. Register on 6 March, choose your dates carefully, and book all accommodation at Sonprayag, Gaurikund, and the trek waypoints (Rambara, Linchauli, Bhimbali) by April.

If You Are Visiting in September (Recommended for Experienced Pilgrims)

The post-monsoon window from mid-September to mid-October is the best-kept secret of the Chardham yatra. The trails are quieter — Kedarnath sees a fraction of its May crowd — the sky is clear, and the landscape after the monsoon is dramatically alive. Daily quotas rarely fill before 10 AM in September. Accommodation is available with short notice. The quality of the experience per rupee spent is significantly higher than peak season. The trade-off is some monsoon residual road damage on lower sections, but the major routes are generally clear by the third week of September.

Your 2026 Chardham Yatra Starts on 6 March — Not 19 April

The temples open in April. But the yatra effectively begins on 6 March — the date the registration portal opens and pilgrims who are prepared begin securing their place in the 2026 season.

The confirmed sequence is clear: Yamunotri and Gangotri on 19 April, Kedarnath on 22 April, and Badrinath on 23 or 24 April. Allow 12 days for the full circuit from Haridwar. Register at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in from 6 March. Book accommodation in Sonprayag, Gaurikund, and Badrinath town before mid-April.

For the complete step-by-step registration guide, Kedarnath-specific registration tips, helicopter booking assistance, and full itinerary planning, explore the resources at Kedarnath Tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions — Chardham Yatra Dates 2026

Q: Are the 2026 Kapat opening dates officially confirmed?

A: Yes. Yamunotri and Gangotri open on 19 April 2026 — Akshaya Tritiya. Kedarnath opens on 22 April 2026. Badrinath opens on 23 or 24 April 2026; the exact date will be confirmed by the BKTC in March 2026 and updated at Kedarnath Tourism.

Q: Can I visit all four dhams if I arrive on 19 April?

A: Yes, if you plan carefully. Starting at Yamunotri on 19 April, Gangotri on 20 April, reaching Kedarnath on or after 22 April, and Badrinath on 23–24 April is achievable in approximately 8 to 10 days with a tight itinerary. Most pilgrims prefer a 12-day circuit to avoid rushing the Kedarnath trek and to allow a recovery day after the ascent.

Q: What happens if I have a registration for 20 April but Kedarnath only opens on 22 April?

A: You can update your registered visit dates through the portal at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. Log in, navigate to your registration, and modify the Kedarnath visit date to 22 April or later. Date modifications are allowed throughout the season subject to daily availability.

Q: Is Badrinath accessible in April or is it too cold?

A: Badrinath is at 3,133 metres and can be cold in late April — temperatures at night drop to between 2°C and 6°C. During the day, temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C near the temple. It is not dangerously cold but warm layers are essential. The road to Badrinath is cleared before the opening date each year.

Q: Where can I get confirmed closing dates for 2026 as they are announced?

A: Closing dates are announced by each temple trust in September and October each year. Kedarnath Tourism will update confirmed closing dates as soon as they are officially declared. You can also check the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app for real-time temple status updates during the season.