With the closing dates of all four Uttarakhand dhams announced on 20 October 2026, the season for winter (Shitkaal) Char Dham darshan is now set. Between 10 and 16 November 2026, the utsav murtis of Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, Baba Kedar and Badri Vishal will be carried in doli processions to their winter seats lower in the valleys, where daily puja continues and yatris can take darshan until the dhams reopen in 2027.
Closing dates and winter seats at a glance
| Dham | Closes in 2026 | Winter seat |
|---|---|---|
| Gangotri | 10 November, 12:05 pm (Annakut) | Mukhba (Mukhwa) village, near Harsil |
| Yamunotri | 11 November (Bhai Dooj) | Kharsali village, near Janki Chatti |
| Kedarnath | 11 November, 8:30 am (Bhai Dooj) | Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath |
| Badrinath | 16 November, 9:37 pm | Pandukeshwar (Uddhav ji, Kuber ji) and Narsingh temple, Jyotirmath (Shankaracharya gaddi) |
How the winter yatra has grown
In December 2024 Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Char Dham Yatra would continue at the winter seats so that the yatra runs through the year, not only for the six summer months. ETV Bharat reported that the 2024–25 winter yatra drew more than 77,000 visitors, and that the Prime Minister’s visit to Mukhba on 6 March 2025 gave it a further push. In 2025 the state began its winter yatra on 24 October, right after Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath closed.
As of 31 October 2026 we have not seen a separate official notice on 2026–27 winter yatra arrangements (such as special buses or registration rules). We will update this page if one is issued; until then, assume the winter seats open for darshan once each doli arrives.
What it means for yatris
- No high-altitude trek: all five winter seats are reached by road. This is a practical choice for elderly parents, or for anyone who missed the summer season.
- Lower and quieter, but still cold: Ukhimath is at about 1,300 m and Jyotirmath about 1,900 m, while Mukhba and Kharsali are higher and can get snow. Carry heavy woollens from December to February.
- Roads can close: snowfall can block the Gangotri and Yamunotri valleys for a day or two. Keep a buffer day and check the weather.
- Same deities, same sankalp: by tradition, darshan at the winter seat is darshan of the same deity, as the utsav murti and puja move there for the winter.
Plan with us
A winter darshan circuit can be planned from Dehradun or Haridwar by road. Our Do Dham Yatra by road and Panch Badri Yatra show how we plan in these valleys; ask us to adapt a route to the winter seats. See also the Yatra Calendar 2027. To plan, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
