Kedarnath Yatra 2024: Opening and Closing Date of Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath Yatra 2024, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” form.
The Kedarnath temple is a part of the Chardham pilgrimage circuit and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Behind the Kedarnath temple, stands the Kedarnath Peak, Kedar Dome, and other Himalayan peaks.
The opening date for the holy Kedarnath Dham Temple is 10th May 2024 for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra 2024. And on the holy eve of Bhai Dooj, Kedarnath temple will be closed for the winter on 02nd November 2024.
The date for the opening of the Badrinath temple is 12th May 2024 and will be closed on 9th November 2024 (tentative). The dates of the other two shrines of Chardham temples, Gangotri & Yamunotri Dham, will be on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya on 10th May 2024. The Gangotri Dham and Yamunotri Dham Kapat are most likely to shut down for Darshan during the holy occasion of Diwali which is predicted to take place on 03rd November 2024.
Kedarnath Temple is one of the most sacred places in India, which comes under 12 Jyotirlingas. Every year, a large number of devotees visit Kedarnath Temple to have a glimpse of Lord Shiva. In the year 2024, the doors of the Holy Shrine will open on May 10 at around 6:30 AM and the special puja rituals will be performed on the day. The opening dates of Kedarnath Temple were declared on Mahashivratri.
Kedarnath Yatra 2024: Opening and Closing Dates
| Kedarnath Temple Ceremony | Date and Time |
| Opening Ceremony | May 10, 2024 - 06:30 AM |
| Closing Ceremony | November 02, 2024 |
Kedarnath Temple 2024 Schedule
The Panchmukhi idol of Baba Kedarnath will be worshipped on May 5, 2024, at the Panch Kedar Gaddi site Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. It will reach Kedarnath Dham on May 9, 2024, in the evening after passing through different stops.
| Program | Date |
| The worship of Lord Bhairavnath will be completed at Shri Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath | May 5, 2024 |
| Panchmukhi Bhogmurti of Lord Kedarnath will leave for Guptkashi from Shri Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath | May 6, 2024 |
| Will depart from Guptkashi for the second stop FATA | May 7, 2024 |
| Will depart from FATA for the third stop Gaurikund | May 8, 2024 |
| Panchmukhi Doli will reach Shri Kedarnath Dham from Gaurikund in the evening | May 9, 2024 |
| On auspicious day, the doors of Shri Kedarnath Dham will open at 6:30 AM | May 10, 2024 |
Kedarnath Yatra 2024 Opening and Closing Ceremony
The date of Kedarnath temple will open on the day of Akshay Tritiya and the date was declared on Mahashivratri festival. The opening date is decided by the priests of Ukhimath's Omkareshwar Temple.
The doors were closed during the winter season on the day of Bhai Dooj, November 14, 2023, and it will open again on May 10, 2024.
Opening Ceremony of Kedarnath Temple
The opening ceremony has immense significance in the Hindu religion. This day is considered as the most auspicious day. Devotees from across the world visit the temple to witness this divine moment of opening ceremony and also have a glimpse of Baba Kedarnath Ji. They all have divine darshan once the opening ceremony is done. Special puja rituals are performed during the ceremony which takes a few hours.
Closing Ceremony of Kedarnath Temple
The grand celebration takes place during the closing ceremony of Kedarnath Temple. On this auspicious day, the Garhwal Band leads the doli of Kedar Baba, and the procession is carried out. The shrine's doors close post Diwali on the eve of Bhai Dooj which is being celebrated on November 20, 2024. Priests perform various puja rituals before closing the doors of the temple.
Brief Introduction of Shri Kedarnath Temple
Not far from the Gaurikund, at an altitude of 3,581m, in between the lofty mountain peaks in the Mandakini valley lays one of the Char Dhams - the divine Shri Kedarnath Temple. More than 1000 years old, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga mingles with the water of Mandakini and the efficacy of the Himalayan setting.
This sacred temple is made of giant stone slabs over a rectangular platform. Pilgrims from all over the world come here not just to see Lord Shiva but also in some sense seek a journey to attain Moksha.
This landscape is a combination of natural beauty and divine power. Snow stands still in pride like a crown at the top of the mountain peaks, and small villages, and glaciers behind the temple add color and contrast to the ambiance of this divine sacred place.
It can be considered one of the sights of a lifetime for tourists and pilgrims. It is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines.
Legend of Kedarnath Temple
The historical name of this region is Kedar Khand and, if we go by what legends have to say, the Pandavas after defeating the Kauravas, felt guilty for killing so many people and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption.
According to them, Lord Shiva eluded them constantly and took refuge in the form of a bull at Kedarnath. He dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath, while the other portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places, which are now revered places of worship.
Meditation Cave in Kedarnath
Another name for Kedarnath Cave is Rudra Meditation Cave. This region is maintained and runs as a “Modern Meditation Cave” by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). Kedarnath Cave is located one and a half kilometers from the Kedarnath Temple complex.
Rudra Cave can be reached from Kedarnath following a trek of around a kilometer very easily. The holy town of Kedarnath is well-linked to several prominent cities in North India.
Panch Kedar
Panch Kedar is part of Lord Shiva’s body that appeared at five places in Kedarnath Town. It is said that the Pandavas built temples at each of these 5 places.
Panch Kedar Temple’s names are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheswar, and Kalpeswara.
The best way to visit Panch Kedar temples is a bus service that leaves Gaurikund near Kedar Nath. The Timing of this bus is every morning at 5 am and stops at every point for Panch Kedar temples.
How to Reach Kedarnath Temple?
Located in Garhwal Himalayas, the temple can be easily accessed from all parts of the country. The base camp is in Gaurikund.
- By Air: The nearest airport to Gaurikund is in Dehradun, which is roughly 255 km away. From the airport, you can take a taxi to reach here.
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Gaurikund is in Haridwar, which is 205 km away. You can take a taxi from the railway station to get there.
- By Road: You can easily reach Kedarnath by road. Gaurikund can be easily accessible via public and private transport.
Helicopter Services in Kedarnath Yatra
The hard journey becomes much easier because of the daily helicopter service from the helipad in Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi village in Kedarnath.
Some operators also offer a premium helicopter service from Jollygrant Airport directly during the peak season of Char Dham Yatra.
Devotees can visit the Kedarnath shrine and also return the same day as the helicopter service flies at regular intervals from Phata and Agustmuni helipads.
There are three main routes available for Heli services in Kedarnath.
Guptkashi, Phata, and Sersi, you can take your helicopter ride from any of these three places.
Kedarnath Yatra 2024 Route Maps
If you want to reach Kedarnath Temple from any part of India. Then Gaurikund will be your last destination by road.
Your City - Haridwar or Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Sonprayag – Gaurikund and then finally 16 km Trek to Kedarnath Temple
Gaurikund is accessible from major destinations of Uttarakhand. After that Kedarnath temple can be reached by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund.
Best time to visit Kedarnath Yatra
April to June and September to October. Summer & Post-Monsoon is the best time to visit Kedarnath Temple
FAQs about Kedarnath Temple
Who built the Kedarnath Temple?
According to Hindu mythology, Kedarnath Mandir was constructed by the legendary brothers Pandava. But the modern structure of the Kedarnath Temple is said to have been built in the 8th century AD by Hindu Guru Adi Sankaracharya at the same place where the Pandavas are believed to built a Shiv temple.
Why is the Kedarnath Yatra Famous?
It is believed that Pandavas went to heaven from the path above the Kedarnath, and they built the Shiva Temple in Kedar Valley. And Kedarnath temple is located in the highest place among the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Where is the Kedarnath Located?
Kedarnath is a holy Hindu Temple located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.
What is the timing of Pooja at Kedarnath Temple?
The morning pooja starts at 4:00 and lasts till 7:00. thus after the last Aarti, Kedarnath Temple is closed till the next morning. only between April and November.
Why does Kedarnath Temple Close Every Year?
Due to the very cold weather, the doors (Kapat) of the Kedarnath temple are closed, and everyone from the Kedar valley migrates downwards.
How old is Kedarnath Temple?
The Lord Shiva Temple of Kedarnath is around 3000 years old. As per mythology, the Kedarnath Temple was made by the Pandavas brothers. however, the exact date or year of the temple’s establishment is not mentioned in pristine literature. But if we look at the scientific evidence, a minimum age of Kedardham of about 3,000 years can be considered.
How did Kedarnath temple survive the flood?
During the flood in 2013, the temple structure did not suffer any “major” damage, apart from a few cracks on one side of the four walls which were caused by the flowing debris from the higher mountains. During the disaster, a huge rock in the flood worked as a barrier and protected the temple from extensive damage. The boulder saved the Kedarnath Temple although scientists believed that the structure and construction of the Temple were the reason for not being destroyed.
What is the name of the stone which saved Kedarnath Temple?
The stone that saved Kedarnath Mandir is called Bheem Sheela.
How far is Kedarnath Temple from the Helipad?
The Kedarnath Helipad is situated about 700 meters away from Kedarnath Temple and can be accessed within a few minutes. Daily helicopter services are available from the helipad in Phata village in Kedarnath. Some operators also offer a helicopter service from the town of Agustmuni in Rudraprayag.
Can devotees stay near Kedarnath?
Yes, everyone can stay near Kedarnath Temple. You can find several hotels and Dharamshalas there according to your budget.
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