Kedarnath Temple doesn’t stay open for the whole year. It opens only once a year and then closes before winter starts. The main reason is snow. The whole area gets covered in snow, and no one can reach the temple after that. So the temple has a fixed time for darshan every year.
People from all parts of India wait for the Kedarnath opening and closing date for their chardham yatra or do dham yatra. It’s a big thing. Devotees start planning their yatra as soon as the date is out. The temple usually opens in May, around Akshaya Tritiya, and then closes in October or November, after Diwali. The Kedarnath closing date mostly comes on Bhai Dooj.
This routine is followed every year. When the temple closes, the idol of Baba Kedarnath is brought down to Ukhimath. There, the puja goes on during winter. So even if the temple is closed, the worship doesn’t stop.
Kedarnath Opening Date 2025 – Darshan Begins on Akshaya Tritiya
The temple of Kedarnath doesn’t open randomly. Every year, there is a fixed method. The Kedarnath opening date is always decided according to the Hindu calendar, not the English one. In 2025, it will open on 2nd May, which is Akshaya Tritiya. This day is not like any other. It’s believed to be one of the most sacred days in the year. That’s why the temple opens only on this day. It’s not just a ritual, it’s a big event for the locals and for all devotees who wait months for darshan.
Before the Kedarnath opening, the idol of Baba Kedarnath is brought from Ukhimath. The journey is done with full respect, chants, flowers, and people walking barefoot. You can literally feel the emotion during that time. People don’t just walk, they cry, they sing, they fold their hands and walk for hours just to be part of it.
When the idol reaches the temple, the gates are opened early in the morning, mostly before sunrise. Priests perform puja, and the first aarti of the season happens. The sound of bells and conch fills the air.
From that moment, lakhs of people will start visiting Kedarnath every day until the Kedarnath closing date. Helicopter services, mules, palkis. everything starts operating from that day. That’s why Kedarnath opening date is such a big deal, especially for those who couldn’t go last year or those coming for the first time.
Kedarnath Closing Date 2025 – Temple Shuts on Bhai Dooj
Just like the Kedarnath opening, the Kedarnath closing date also follows a fixed tradition. The temple always closes on Bhai Dooj, which comes right after Diwali. In 2025, it will probably close on 23rd October.
This is the last day of darshan for the year. After this, the temple will stay shut for the next six months. No one is allowed to visit the main shrine after that. The area becomes too cold and dangerous. Roads get blocked with snow, and the whole region becomes silent. But the Kedarnath closing is not a sad moment. It’s full of love and deep emotion. That morning, thousands of people reach the temple to say goodbye to Baba Kedarnath. Some people even walk barefoot just to be there for the final aarti.
After the morning puja, the idol of Baba Kedarnath is taken back to Ukhimath. This journey is also done with full rituals and chants. The idol is kept in Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath and worshipped there all through the winter months. Even though the gates close, the faith doesn’t stop. That’s the beauty of this place. The Kedarnath closing date is not an end — it’s just a pause till next time. People fold their hands and say, “Agle saal fir bula lena, Baba.”
This day reminds us that everything works according to time, and nature has its own rules. Baba stays in the hearts of people even when the doors are shut.
Who Decides Kedarnath Opening and Closing Dates Every Year?
This is something most people are curious about — who actually decides the Kedarnath opening date and when the temple will close? The answer is simple. The decision is made by the head priest of Kedarnath, known as Rawal ji, along with the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. But it’s not decided just by picking a random day from the calendar.
Every year, on the day of Mahashivratri, the priests gather in Ukhimath. That’s where Lord Kedarnath’s idol stays during winter. They check the traditional Hindu Panchang — looking at tithi, nakshatra, and other religious factors. Based on that, they choose a good and holy date around Akshaya Tritiya. That becomes the Kedarnath opening date for the year. As for the Kedarnath closing date, there’s no meeting needed. It’s fixed every year — always on Bhai Dooj, two days after Diwali. That part never changes.
Once the dates are confirmed, the temple trust makes an official announcement. Local newspapers, TV news, and travel websites start sharing the information, so people can plan their yatra accordingly. There’s no guessing involved. No modern shortcuts. This system has been followed for hundreds of years. Everything is done with proper rituals and complete faith exactly how our ancestors did it.
Conclusion
Before you go to Kedarnath, always check when the Kedarnath opening and Kedarnath Closing dates. That’s the first thing. Because it doesn’t stay open all year. The gates only open in summer and close right after Diwali. Usually, the Kedarnath opening date comes around Akshaya Tritiya, and the Kedarnath closing date is on Bhai Dooj. These days change a little every year, so don’t assume. Just wait for the official announcement and then plan your trip.
People make this journey with a lot of faith. It’s not an ordinary place. So it’s better to go when the weather is okay, roads are safe, and the temple is open. Some folks reach too early or too late and then get stuck or return without darshan. That hurts, especially when you’ve come all the way. So remember, just two things — when the temple opens and when it closes. Everything else will fall into place. Travel safe, go prepared, and don’t forget — Kedarnath isn’t just about the temple. It’s about the feeling you carry back with you.
