The Kedarnath Temple in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand will reopen to devotees on April 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM. Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the date on Sunday, noting that the shrine’s reopening is determined by the Hindu calendar and therefore varies each year.
On February 15, Dhami said the state government is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and smooth pilgrimage of devotees during their visit.
"I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Mahashivratri. May Lord Shiva give us enough strength so that we can work together and contribute to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Viksit Bharat 2047. On 22nd April, the portals of Kedarnath Temple will be opened. Preparations have already started. We will ensure that all the devotees who come to Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand, are safe. The number of Lord Shiva devotees is increasing every passing year, and they are flocking to the religious sites. We are putting efforts to ensure everyone's safety," ANI quoted the Chief Minister as saying.
Located in Rudraprayag district of Garhwal, the Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India. While the Badrinath Temple will open on April 23, the Kedarnath Dham Yatra date was earlier awaited. As per tradition, the temple gates open a few days after Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on April 19 this year. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has confirmed that the doors of Kedarnath Temple will open on April 22 at 8:00 AM.
Darshan And Aarti Timings
Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Morning General Darshan: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Temple Closed: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Evening General Darshan: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Evening Aarti: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
How To Reach Kedarnath
By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun.
By Train: The closest railway station is Rishikesh railway station.
By Road: Kedarnath is not directly accessible by road. The nearest motorable point is Gaurikund, which is well connected to Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri. From Gaurikund, pilgrims undertake a 16-kilometre trek to reach the temple. Mule, palanquin and helicopter services from Phata or Guptkashi are also available for devotees.
Kedarnath Temple Reopening: Safety and Preparations
Safety Measures for Devotees: The state government is taking steps to ensure that all pilgrims visiting Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand, remain safe during the yatra.
Rising Devotee Numbers: Dhami highlighted the growing number of Lord Shiva devotees each year and emphasized that authorities are making efforts to maintain safety and smooth access at the temple.