Rudranath Opening and Closing Date 2027: Kapat Dates

Facts checked November 2026.

Rudranath is the fourth of the Panch Kedar temples, high in the meadows above Gopeshwar in Chamoli district. Lord Shiva is worshipped here in his face form. The temple is open only from about mid-May to mid-October, so the kapat dates decide when you can do this yatra. This page covers the opening and closing dates and how to plan around them. For the trek itself, see our Rudranath temple trek guide.

This page is part of our Panch Kedar Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Panch Kedar yatra packages.

When does Rudranath temple open in 2027?

The 2027 opening date has not been announced yet. It is usually declared on Basant Panchami at the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar, the winter seat of Lord Rudranath. Basant Panchami falls in late January or February, so expect the official date then.

Expected (estimate): mid-to-late May 2027. This is based on the last two years. The doors opened on 18 May in both 2025 and 2026. The exact day is worked out from the Hindu calendar (panchang) each year, so it can move by a few days. Please do not book anything that cannot be changed until the official date is out.

In 2026, the opening went like this:

• The date (18 May) was announced on Basant Panchami in January 2026 at Gopinath temple.
• The deity’s utsav doli left Gopinath temple on 17 May for Rudranath.
• The doors opened on 18 May 2026 with Vedic rituals.

When does Rudranath close for winter?

Rudranath closes in mid-October, earlier than Kedarnath or Badrinath. In 2026 the doors closed on 17 October 2026, the day of Tula (Kartik) Sankranti, when the Sun enters Libra. The closing rituals began in the evening and the doors were shut at about 8 pm. The utsav doli then travelled down to Gopinath temple over the next two days.

The closing has fallen on 17 October in each of the last three years (2024, 2025 and 2026). In 2024 and 2025 the doors closed in the early morning, while in 2026 they closed in the evening, timed to the Sankranti, which fell in the evening.

Expected (estimate) 2027 closing: around 17 October 2027, on Tula Sankranti, based on this pattern. The exact date and time were reported in September in recent years (28 September in 2025, 13 September in 2026).

How is the Rudranath opening date decided?

Rudranath’s dates are fixed by the temple’s priests using the panchang, not on a fixed calendar day.

• Opening: announced on Basant Panchami at Gopinath temple, Gopeshwar, where the deity spends the winter. The chief priest has said the date is calculated from the panchang each year.
• Closing: tied to Tula (Kartik) Sankranti in mid-October. In 2026 a Rudranath priest gave the closing date and time on 13 September.
• Doli yatra: before opening, the deity is brought out at Gopinath temple for darshan and then carried on foot to Rudranath. After closing, the doli returns the same way.

This is different from Kedarnath, whose opening date is declared on Mahashivratri and which closes on Bhai Dooj. You can compare them on our Kedarnath opening and closing date page.

Rudranath opening and closing dates by year

Only dates that were clearly reported are listed below.

Where is Rudranath worshipped in winter?

From the closing day until the next opening, Lord Rudranath is worshipped at the Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar, Chamoli district. This is the winter seat. Daily puja continues there for about six months, so you can take Rudranath’s darshan in winter without the trek. Gopeshwar is reachable by road, which makes it a good option for elders or anyone who cannot walk the high route.

Planning your Rudranath yatra around the dates

• Wait for Basant Panchami. Fix your travel dates only after the official opening date is announced.
• Opening days can be busy. If you prefer a calmer darshan, go a week or two later.
• Monsoon months need care. July and August bring rain on the mountain routes. Keep a spare day in your plan and check road updates before you leave.
• September to early October falls just before the closing. Leave a margin of a few days before 17 October so you do not miss darshan.
• Doing all five Kedars? Each temple has its own dates. Rudranath closes in mid-October, earlier than Tungnath and Madmaheshwar, so plan it first. See our Panch Kedar trek guide.

How Yatra To Temples can help

We organise Rudranath darshan as part of our Panch Kedar yatras, starting from Haridwar. We plan the dates around the announced kapat opening, arrange stays and local guides, and keep your group updated if the dates change. See our Rudranath darshan yatra or browse all Panch Kedar yatra packages.

To ask about dates for your family, contact us on +91 78178 98687 (call or WhatsApp) or email shiva@yatratotemples.in.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rudranath opening date in 2027?

It has not been announced yet. The date is usually declared on Basant Panchami at Gopinath temple, Gopeshwar. Expected (estimate): mid-to-late May 2027, based on the 2025 and 2026 openings; not a confirmed date.

When did Rudranath open in 2026?

The doors opened on 18 May 2026. The doli left Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar on 17 May and reached Rudranath for the opening rituals.

When did Rudranath close in 2026?

Rudranath closed for winter on 17 October 2026, on Tula Sankranti. The doors were shut at about 8 pm after the evening rituals.

Who announces the Rudranath kapat dates?

The dates come from the temple priests, worked out from the panchang. The opening date is declared on Basant Panchami at Gopinath temple, and the closing date has been reported in September, a few weeks before Tula Sankranti.

Can I visit Rudranath in winter?

The main temple is closed in winter because of snow. You can take darshan of Lord Rudranath at Gopinath temple in Gopeshwar, where he is worshipped during the winter months.

Why does Rudranath close before Kedarnath?

Rudranath’s closing follows Tula Sankranti in mid-October, while Kedarnath closes later, on Bhai Dooj (11 November in 2026). Each temple follows its own tradition.