The kapat (portals) of Shri Kedarnath Dham in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, will close for the winter at 8:30 am on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, the day of Bhai Dooj. The date was announced on 20 October 2026 by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), whose vice-president Rishi Prasad Sati shared the details, along with the closing dates of the other three dhams. After the closing rituals, Baba Kedar’s utsav doli will leave for the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, his winter seat, where daily puja continues until the dham reopens next year.
What has been announced
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Closing date and time | 11 November 2026, 8:30 am (Bhai Dooj) | Announced by BKTC, 20 Oct 2026 |
| Winter seat | Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district) | Traditional, confirmed in Oct 2026 reports |
| Doli halts on the way down | In 2025 the doli halted at Rampur and Guptkashi and reached Ukhimath on the third day | 2026 halts not yet confirmed by us |
| 2027 opening date | Not announced. Traditionally declared on Mahashivratri (6 March 2027) at Ukhimath | Expected, not confirmed |
On 23 October 2026, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra told ANI that the portals will close on the morning of 11 November and that the administration is preparing for winter. The 2026 Kedarnath season began on 22 April, when the portals opened at 8 am; that opening date had been announced on Mahashivratri at the Omkareshwar temple, after panchang calculations, which is the usual practice.
What it means for yatris
- Last darshan: if you still want darshan at the main temple this year, plan to be at Kedarnath by 10 November. The closing ceremony is early on the 11th and the weather at about 3,580 m in November is cold, with snow possible.
- Do not cut it fine: the trek from Gaurikund and the drive up the Mandakini valley need a spare day. Helicopter flights depend on weather and may stop before the closing date; check with the operator.
- Winter darshan is still possible: from the time the doli arrives in Ukhimath, yatris can take darshan of Baba Kedar at the Omkareshwar temple. Ukhimath is reachable by road and does not involve a trek, which makes it a gentle option for elderly parents.
- Registration: keep your Char Dham registration letter handy on the main route until the closing date. Check the official Uttarakhand Tourism registration portal for any late-season instructions.
- For 2027: the opening date will most likely be announced on Mahashivratri, 6 March 2027. Until then, any “confirmed” 2027 opening date you see online is a guess.
Plan with us
If you want darshan before the kapat close, or are planning for the 2027 season, see our Kedarnath Yatra from Dehradun or the Do Dham Yatra by road from Haridwar. Our Kedarnath yatra guide and Yatra Calendar 2027 explain the route and the dates to watch. To ask about a late-season or winter darshan plan, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
