The revered Kedarnath Temple in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand is set to reopen for pilgrims on April 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Sunday. He noted that the reopening date varies each year according to the Hindu calendar.
Addressing the occasion of Mahashivratri, Dhami extended his greetings to devotees and prayed for strength to collectively contribute to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a “Viksit Bharat 2047.” “Preparations are underway, and the state government is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and smooth pilgrimage of devotees. Each year, the number of Lord Shiva devotees visiting Uttarakhand increases, and we are committed to their well-being,” Dhami said.
Located in Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath Temple is one of India’s most important pilgrimage sites, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The opening date follows Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on April 19 this year. Meanwhile, Badrinath Temple will reopen a day later, on April 23. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has confirmed the Kedarnath reopening schedule.
Darshan and Aarti Timings
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Morning Aarti: 4:00 AM – 7:00 AM
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Morning General Darshan: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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Temple Closed: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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Evening General Darshan: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
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Evening Aarti: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
आस्था, तप और अखंड श्रद्धा की त्रिवेणी से अनुप्राणित, द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंगों में से एक देवाधिदेव महादेव की पावन धरा श्री केदारनाथ धाम के कपाट 22 अप्रैल 2026 को परंपरागत विधि-विधान एवं वैदिक मंत्रोच्चार के साथ श्रद्धालुओं के दर्शनार्थ खोले जाएंगे।
चारधाम यात्रा को इस वर्ष भी… pic.twitter.com/6nHqzEFJoF
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) February 15, 2026
How to Reach Kedarnath
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By Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun.
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By Train: Closest station is Rishikesh Railway Station.
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By Road: The temple is not directly accessible by road. The nearest motorable point is Gaurikund, connected to Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Tehri. From Gaurikund, pilgrims must trek 16 km to reach the temple. Mule, palanquin, and helicopter services are also available from Phata or Guptkashi.
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Safety and Preparations
The Uttarakhand government is implementing comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of all pilgrims visiting Kedarnath. With the number of devotees steadily rising every year, authorities are working to maintain smooth access and safety protocols for a secure pilgrimage experience.