Gangotri Closing Date 2026 (Closed 10 Nov) and Opening Date 2027

Facts checked November 2026.

Gangotri, the dham of Maa Ganga in Uttarkashi district, is open for only about six months a year. The festivals that open and close it are fixed, but they follow the Hindu panchang, so the English dates move every year. Below are the latest confirmed dates, how the muhurat is set, and a table of past seasons that shows the pattern. To compare Gangotri with the other three dhams, see our Char Dham opening and closing dates.

This page is part of our Gangotri and Yamunotri Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Char Dham and Do Dham yatra packages.

When does Gangotri open?

Gangotri opens on Akshaya Tritiya, the auspicious third day of the bright half of Vaishakh. In the 2026 season, the doors opened on Sunday, 19 April 2026, at 12:15 pm, on the same day as Yamunotri. That opening marked the formal start of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

The opening is the end of a short journey for the goddess. In 2026, the Bhogmurti of Maa Ganga left her winter home at Mukhba in a palanquin on 18 April, stopped overnight at the Bhairav temple in Bhairav Ghati, and set off on foot for Gangotri at 7 am the next morning. The kapat opened once the idol reached the dham.

Gangotri opening date 2027: not announced yet.

• Expected: 9 May 2027 (Akshaya Tritiya; the exact muhurat is announced in spring). Drik Panchang lists Akshaya Tritiya 2027 on Sunday, 9 May for New Delhi. The tithi begins at 11:42 am on 8 May (New Delhi), so a few calendars show 8 May. Treat this as an estimate, not a confirmed date; the temple committee will announce the time in spring 2027.

When does Gangotri close?

Gangotri closes on Annakut, also called Govardhan Puja, the day after Diwali in most years. For 2026, the doors closed on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at 12:05 pm. Suresh Semwal, secretary of the Gangotri temple committee, announced the time. After the closing puja, the utsav doli of Maa Ganga sets out for Mukhba, her winter seat.

Gangotri closing date 2027: not announced yet.

• Expected: 30 October 2027 (Annakut/Govardhan Puja, as listed by Drik Panchang for New Delhi). Estimate; the exact closing time is usually announced around Vijayadashami, 9 October 2027.

How is the Gangotri date decided?

The dates are not chosen by the government. They are worked out by the priests from the panchang, and announced by the Shri Gangotri temple committee. The day itself is fixed by tradition, Akshaya Tritiya for opening and Annakut for closing. What the priests calculate each year is the exact muhurat (auspicious time) on that day.

1. Opening muhurat: announced in spring, around Chaitra Navratri. In 2026, the committee announced the 19 April opening and its 12:15 pm time on 19 March 2026, during Chaitra Navratri.
2. Closing muhurat: announced in autumn, a few weeks before Diwali, usually around Dussehra (Vijayadashami). In 2025, the closing dates for all four dhams were announced on Vijayadashami, 2 October.
3. Season length: because Akshaya Tritiya can fall anywhere from mid-April to mid-May, and Diwali from late October to mid-November, the season can be shorter or longer by a few weeks from one year to the next.

Gangotri opening and closing dates by year

Older dates come from news reports of each season; the 2026 row uses the official announcements. Times are shown only where we could confirm them.

Notice the swing: the 2024 season opened as late as 10 May, while 2026 opened on 19 April. That is why it is unwise to book on last year’s dates.

Where is Maa Ganga worshipped in winter?

From Annakut until Akshaya Tritiya, Maa Ganga is worshipped at Mukhba (also spelt Mukhwa), a small village near Harsil, lower down the Bhagirathi valley from Gangotri. The priests of Gangotri come from this village, and daily puja continues at the Ganga temple there through the winter. Families who cannot reach the dham in summer can still have darshan at Mukhba in winter, road and weather permitting. Our Mukhba village guide explains the winter seat in detail. Read our winter Char Dham darshan update for more on visiting the winter seats.

Planning around the Gangotri dates

Opening weeks

Because the Char Dham season starts here, the days just after Akshaya Tritiya bring large groups to Gangotri. Mornings are still cold, and there can be snow around the dham early in the season. If you want a calmer darshan, plan for two or three weeks after opening. Our guide to the best time for Char Dham yatra goes through each month.

Closing weeks

Gangotri has been the first of the four dhams to close in each year shown above, one day before Yamunotri and Kedarnath. The days before Annakut fall in Diwali week, when many families come for a last darshan, and hotels in Uttarkashi and Harsil can fill up. Nights are very cold, and early snowfall can close the road at short notice. Keep a spare day in your plan and do not schedule Gangotri for the last possible day.

Before you travel

• Register for the yatra before you leave. Our Char Dham registration guide walks you through it.
• Check the temple timings and darshan routine in our Gangotri temple guide.
• If you are combining both dhams of Uttarkashi, read the Gangotri and Yamunotri yatra guide.
• For this season’s final days, see our Gangotri and Yamunotri closing 2026 update.

Related guides: Gangotri and Yamunotri weather by month

How Yatra To Temples can help

Yatra To Temples organises dharmik yatras in Uttarakhand for families, senior citizens and groups. Our road Char Dham yatras start and end at Haridwar and are planned around the confirmed kapat dates, with spare time kept for weather. See the Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar or browse all Char Dham yatras, then call or WhatsApp us to check dates for your family.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Gangotri opening date in 2027?

It has not been announced yet. Gangotri traditionally opens on Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on 9 May 2027 according to Drik Panchang for New Delhi, so the expected opening is 9 May 2027. The temple committee announces the exact muhurat in spring, usually around Chaitra Navratri.

On which festival does Gangotri close?

Gangotri closes on Annakut, which is Govardhan Puja, the day after Diwali in most years. In 2026 this was Tuesday, 10 November, with the closing muhurat at 12:05 pm.

Do Gangotri and Yamunotri open on the same day?

Yes. Both open on Akshaya Tritiya, each at its own muhurat. In 2026 Gangotri opened at 12:15 pm and Yamunotri at 12:35 pm on 19 April.

Can I visit Gangotri after it closes?

The temple at Gangotri stays shut through winter and the area gets heavy snow. You can have darshan of Maa Ganga at her winter seat in Mukhba, near Harsil, where daily puja continues until the doors reopen.

Does Gangotri always open on Akshaya Tritiya?

Yes, by tradition. In every year from 2022 to 2026 it opened on Akshaya Tritiya and closed on Annakut. What the priests work out afresh each season is the muhurat, so the opening and closing times differ from year to year.

Is it safe to plan Gangotri in the last week of the season?

It is possible, but keep a buffer. Diwali-week crowds, cold nights and the chance of early snow mean you should not leave Gangotri for the final day. Keep at least one spare day in your plan.