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Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand – The sacred portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham are set to reopen on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 7:00 AM in the auspicious Vrishabha Lagna (Taurus ascendant), as announced by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). This event marks the official commencement of the Char Dham Yatra 2025, a significant pilgrimage in Hinduism encompassing four revered shrines in Uttarakhand: Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Situated at an altitude of 3,583 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. Due to extreme winter conditions, the temple remains closed for six months annually, during which the deity is ceremonially relocated to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.
The reopening date was determined on Mahashivratri (February 26, 2025) at Omkareshwar Temple, following traditional Panchang calculations.
In keeping with tradition, the Panchmukhi Doli (palanquin) of Baba Kedarnath commenced its journey from Omkareshwar Temple on April 28, 2025, after the worship of Lord Bhairavnath on April 27. The procession made overnight halts at Shri Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi, Phata, and Gaurikund, before reaching Kedarnath on May 1.
The BKTC, along with the Uttarakhand government, has undertaken extensive preparations to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience. An advance team has been dispatched to Kedarnath to oversee arrangements, including accommodations, medical facilities, and crowd management.
Online and offline registrations for the Char Dham Yatra have been initiated to manage the influx of pilgrims. Devotees can register through the official Char Dham portal or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile application.
Following the reopening of Kedarnath, the Badrinath Temple is scheduled to open on May 4, 2025, at 6:00 AM. Earlier, the temples of Gangotri and Yamunotri opened their doors on April 30, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
The reopening of Kedarnath Temple heralds the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra 2025, inviting devotees from across the nation and abroad to embark on this sacred journey. With meticulous preparations in place, authorities aim to provide a spiritually enriching and safe pilgrimage experience.