Best Time to Visit Char Dham

Uttarakhand is a devotees’ treasury and undeniably Char Dham is one its concealed solitaires. All the four temples (Char Dham), Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath remain open for just half a year from April or May to October or November. However, the exact dates are confirmed by the Mandir Samiti on the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri. Like every year, this year as well the opening and closing dates have been announced by the committee. However, the dates are determined by the priest of the Bhimashankar Linga Temple.

Being located at high peaks, the temples of Char Dham witnesses a heavy snowfall during the winter season which forces the committee to close the shrines during winter season, making the months from April/May to October/November the only best time to visit Char Dham. Moreover, during the winter season when the hallowed gates of Kedarnath Temple remain closed, the idol of Kedarnath is shifted to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. Whereas, Shani Dev Temple in Kharsali, Vasu Dev Temple in Joshimath, and Mukhimath Temple in Mukba are the holy shrines that become the winter home where the idols of Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Gangotri are kept and worshipped for the whole winter season respectively.

Every year, the Char Dham Yatra witnesses a heavy number of pilgrims and this stat is subsequently increasing year-by-year. In 2018, the holy gates of Yamunotri and Gangotri are ready to reopen from 18 April. Whereas, Kedarnath and Badrinath are also set to reopen for devotees on 21 April and 30 April respectively.