Char Dham Yatra 2023: Kedarnath Temple to Open on 25th April

On Wednesday, 5th April 2023, officials announced that the portals of the Kedarnath Dham will open for all devotees on April 25. In addition to trekking, devotees will also be able to reach Kedarnath Dham by helicopter, said the officials.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been authorized for online booking for those traveling to Kedarnath Dham by helicopter, as per Uttarakhand Tourism Development.

Chief Minister Dhami said that “Health ATMs would be set up for health checkups during the Char Dham Yatra.” He also added that the “devotees would benefit greatly from this and that this is a great step towards fortifying healthcare services along the Char Dham Yatra route.”

In March, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council reported that over 6.34 lakh devotees had registered for the upcoming Chardham Yatra. Of these, 2.41 lakh registrations were for Kedarnath Dham, 2.01 lakh for Badrinath Dham, 95,107 for Yamanotri, and 96,449 for Gangotri Dham.

Preparations for the Chardham Yatra began on March 11 by the Rudraprayag district administration. The pilgrimage tour of four holy sites – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri – nestled high up in the Himalayas is one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimages in India.

These high-altitude shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summer (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). The Yamunotri and Gangotri temples will open on April 22, marking the start of the Chardham Yatra. Kedarnath Dham will open on April 25, followed by Badrinath Dham on April 27.