Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham shut for winter season
Synopsis
Kedarnath Dham and Yamunotri Dham shut their doors for winter on 12 November 2026 as announced by Uttarakhand's Chief Minister's Office. The annual high-altitude closures mark the near-end of the Char Dham Yatra season, with the deities ceremonially shifted to lower-altitude winter abodes until spring 2027.
Key Takeaways
Kedarnath Dham and Yamunotri Dham closed for winter on 12 November 2026 .
The closure was announced by the Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand on X.
Kedarnath is located at 3,583 metres in Rudraprayag district ; Yamunotri is in Uttarkashi district .
The presiding deity of Kedarnath moves to Ukhimath , and that of Yamunotri to Kharsali for winter worship.
The two remaining Char Dham shrines — Gangotri and Badrinath — are yet to announce their winter closure dates.
Reopenings for all four shrines are expected in April–May 2027 .
The Himalayas have drawn their veil for another year. The sacred portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Yamunotri Dham — two of Uttarakhand's four holiest Char Dham shrines — closed for the winter season on Thursday, 12 November 2026, as announced by the Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand.
The closure, announced on X with the message 'श्री केदारनाथ धाम व श्री यमुनोत्री धाम के कपाट शीतकाल के लिए हुए बंद' ('The doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Yamunotri Dham have been closed for the winter season'), marks the end of the annual pilgrimage window at two of the most venerated high-altitude temples in India.
Why the doors close every November
Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva and perched at 3,583 metres above sea level in Rudraprayag district, becomes inaccessible under metres of Himalayan snow through the winter months. Yamunotri, dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and situated near the river's source in Uttarkashi district, faces the same seasonal isolation. Each year, the state government and the temple boards coordinate closures — typically in October or November — and reopenings in April or May once the snow recedes and mountain routes become passable again. The ritual closures are not merely administrative. They follow elaborate Hindu ceremonial traditions: the presiding deity's idol is ceremonially moved to a winter seat at a lower-altitude temple, and the main shrine is sealed until the following spring. For Kedarnath, the idol travels to Ukhimath in Rudraprayag for winter worship; for Yamunotri, the goddess is shifted to Kharsali village in Uttarkashi.The Char Dham Yatra: a pilgrimage season now closed in two legs
The Char Dham Yatra — covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri — is one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimage circuits in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees each season. The circuit typically opens with Yamunotri and Gangotri in late April or early May, followed by Kedarnath, with Badrinath opening last. The closures follow a similar reverse sequence each autumn. With Kedarnath and Yamunotri now sealed, the attention of the Garhwal temple committees, pilgrims, and the state administration shifts to Gangotri and Badrinath, whose winter closure dates are yet to be announced for this season. When all four shrines shut, the Char Dham Yatra season of 2026 will be officially over — until the mountains open again in the spring of 2027. Until then, the high passes fall silent, and the gods go to their winter homes.Point of View
The state's ability to orchestrate smooth seasonal transitions has become a marker of administrative credibility. How the government handles winter pilgrim facilities and preparations for the 2027 season will be watched closely by both devotees and the broader tourism economy of Uttarakhand.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kedarnath Dham close in 2026?
Kedarnath Dham closed for the winter season on 12 November 2026 , as announced by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office.
When will Kedarnath reopen in 2027?
Kedarnath typically reopens in April or May each year after winter snows recede; the exact 2027 reopening date will be announced by the temple board and state government.
Where does the Kedarnath deity go in winter?
The presiding idol of Kedarnath is ceremonially shifted to Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district, where devotees can offer worship through the winter months.
Are all four Char Dham shrines closed now?
As of 12 November 2026 , Kedarnath and Yamunotri have closed. The winter closure dates for Gangotri and Badrinath are yet to be formally announced.
Why do Char Dham temples close every winter?
The temples are located at extreme high altitudes in the Himalayas, where heavy snowfall makes the shrines and approach routes completely inaccessible from November to April or May.
