Kedarnath Opening Kedarnath Temple, 1000 years old temple, is situated in between the towering mountain peaks in the Mandakini valley. It is positioned at a peak of 3,583 meters. Pilgrims, mostly old age people, come to take blessings from Lord Shiva as they believe that they will attain ‘Moksha.’ Kedarnath Temple comes under Chardham Yatra.
In the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Temple is established. Out of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath is one of them. Pilgrims wait for the temple to open. Usually, Kedarnath Temple is open for only 6 months every year.
Kedarnath Opening Date 2023
Kedarnath Temple doesn’t open throughout the year. Kedarnath Opening Date & time of the temple is limited and is decided on the promising day of Akshay Tritiya. It is announced on the Maha Shiva Ratri. There is a priest in Ukhimath’s Omkareshwar Temple who after calculation of Panchang declares the Kedarnath Opening Date.
Kedarnath Temple Closing Date
On the other hand, the Kedarnath temple closes on a certain date which is two days after Diwali. Bhai Dooj is celebrated after 2 days of Diwali, at that time the Kedarnath temple closes. For example, this year, in 2023, Diwali is going to be celebrated on 12 November. So, as per the above-mentioned details, Kedarnath temple will close 2 days after Diwali i.e. 14th of November.
| Kedarnath Opening Date | 25 April 2023 (Declared) |
| Kedarnath Temple Closing Date | 14 November 2023 (Tentative) |
Kedarnath Dham Opening and Closing Ceremony
After the announcement of the Kedarnath Opening Date, pilgrims wait for the day. They book their tickets as soon as the date is revealed. Not only from India, but people around the world also come to take blessings from Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Dham is a pious place where pilgrims offer flowers and prasad in the temple.
The Pujaris and Rawal of the Kedarnath Temple devote their prayers for a very long period after which the gates of the Kedarnath Temple open. Pilgrims can only seek blessings after the opening of the gates. Similarly, at the time of closing of gates, the Garhwal Bands take the Baba Kedar Doli to Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath. The day becomes so auspicious as it is the last date of visiting the temple.
Pilgrims become disheartened at the time of the closing of the Kedarnath temple as they have to wait for another 6 months to open the gate.
Kedarnath in Winters
During winter, the doors of Kedarnath temple get shut due to heavy snowfall in Kedarnath. From Bhai Dooj to Akshay Tritiya the temple remains closed. The pious statue of Lord Shiva is also transferred from Garhwal to Ukhimath. Both the Kedarnath and the temple are closed. Pilgrims are not allowed to enter Kedarnath as there is a life risk.
If people want to have a darshan of Lord Shiva, then they can visit Ukhimath where the Shivling has been kept. However, there is less chance that pilgrims will visit there. Rather, they wait for next year for the opening of the Kedarnath temple.
How to reach Kedarnath-
By Train: If you are visiting Kedarnath temple by train, the nearby railway station is Rishikesh. Kedarnath is 216 kilometers ahead of Rishikesh.
By Road: If you are planning to visit Kedarnath by road, then you can easily have access to buses and taxis from Rishikesh, Srinagar, Pauri, Dehradun, Chamoli, Tehri, etc.
By Air: The last option for visiting the temple is by airplane. The closest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant. 238 kilometers ahead of Jolly Grant is Kedarnath. You can get taxis from the airport to Gaurikund.
Places to visit in Kedarnath
There are many holy places to visit in Kedarnath like Kalpeshwar Temple, Rudranath Temple, Madhyamaheshwar Temple, and many more. Moreover, there are many treks to explore like Chorabari Tal, Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila Trek, Vasuki Tal Trek, etc. Pilgrims can stay in Kedarnath for three to four days and explore such beautiful places.
Chardham Yatras Opening Dates
The below-mentioned table will provide you with the details of the opening dates of the Chardham Yatra in 2023:
| Chardham’s Names | Opening Date |
| Gangotri Temple | 22nd April 2023 |
| Yamunotri Temple | 22nd April 2023 |
| Kedarnath Temple | 25th April 2023 |
| Badrinath Temple | 27th April 2023 |
Chardham Yatras Closing Dates
The below-mentioned table will provide you with the necessary information regarding the closing dates of the Chardham Yatra in 2023:
| Chardham’s Names | Closing Date |
| Gangotri Temple | 12th November 2023 (Unconfirmed) |
| Yamunotri Temple | 12th November 2023 (Unconfirmed) |
| Kedarnath Temple | 14th November 2023 (Unconfirmed) |
| Badrinath Temple | 21st November 2023 (Unconfirmed) |
Kedarnath Yatra Registration Process 2023
Pilgrims can register themselves online as well as offline mode. In the case of offline mode, pilgrims can register through the counters that are available during the Chardham Yatra route.
For pilgrims interested in booking online, the process is:
- Visit www.registartionandtouristcare.uk.gov.in.
- Select the Register or Login option and fill out the form by verifying the OTP that will be sent to your mobile no and email.
- On the personalized dashboard, tap on add pilgrims.
- Add all the information such as tour dates, number of pilgrims, name of the tour, destination, etc.
- Through the Unique registration number, you can download the registration letter.
Best Time to Visit The Kedarnath Temple
The temple remains open for only six months. During those six months, pilgrims can visit the temple at any time. All the months are crowded and spiritual. Pilgrims can be seen with enthusiasm while visiting the temple. The gates are open from May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On which day is the closing date of Kedarnath temple announced?
The closing date of Kedarnath temple is announced on Vijayadashami every year.
What are the months for which the doors of Kedarnath temple remain open?
The doors of Kedarnath temple usually remain open for six months i.e. summer and monsoons ( May, June, July, August, September, October, and November). During winter, the temple remains closed.
What is the opening date of Kedarnath Dham in 2023?
The opening date of Kedarnath Temple in 2023 is 26 April 2023.
