The holy gates of Shri Kedarnath Dham will open on May 2, followed by Shri Badrinath Dham on May 4, a representative of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) informed.
"An advance team from the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has reached Shri Kedarnath Dham this evening. The shrine will open for devotees again from May 2," the spokesperson confirmed.
Earlier, on April 10, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reaffirmed the state government's commitment to the safety of pilgrims undertaking the revered Char Dham Yatra. Emphasizing the pilgrimage's crucial role in the region’s economy, the CM stated, “The preparations for the Char Dham Yatra are underway. I also chaired a meeting to review the preparations for the Yatra. We make sure to protect the well-being and safety of our pilgrims. Char Dham Yatra is the economy's lifeline for our state."
Apart from this, Shri Madmaheshwar Temple, referred to as the second Kedar, will again open its doors on May 21, and the third Kedar, Shri Tungnath Temple, will also start receiving devotees on the same date as Kedarnath, May 2.
A session conducted at Ukhimath's Shri Omkareshwar Temple during the week decided on the date when Shri Madmaheshwar Temple would reopen. BKTC Chief Executive Officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, who was present during the session, was received warmly by the Kedar Sabha and praised for his co-operation with Tirthpurohits (age-old temple priests).
On Tuesday, Thapliyal also conducted a thorough inspection tour, visiting some of the important sites under the temple committee. His schedule included the Maa Barahi Temple in Sansari, Masta Narayan Koti, Shri Triyuginarayan Temple, Gauramaata Temple, Gaurikund, the rest house of the committee at Son Prayag, and the Sanskrit College in Shonitpur (Guptkashi).
One of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimages, the Char Dham Yatra involves a visit to four holy Himalayan shrines — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. 'Char Dham' literally means 'four religious places' in Hindi.
The pilgrimage traditionally starts in a clockwise direction — from Yamunotri, then to Gangotri, followed by Kedarnath, and finally reaching Badrinath.
Though the journey can be done by road, there are also air travel facilities available — such as helicopter services. There are also many devotees who opt for the Do Dham Yatra, which involves visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath specifically.
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