Kedarnath portals to close for winter on 11 November, a day after Gangotri Dham shuts

The Kedarnath portals will close for the winter on the morning of 11 November 2026, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said, a day after Gangotri Dham shut its doors for the season. ANI reported on 10 November that the ceremonial palanquin of Baba Kedar entered the temple that day, which starts the closing rituals.

When the Kedarnath portals close

“The portals of Kedarnath Dham will close on the morning of 11 November, marking the end of the annual pilgrimage, after which the winter pilgrimage will begin,” Mishra said, as quoted by ANI. He reached the shrine in person on Tuesday to inspect the arrangements.

ETV Bharat reported that Mishra told officials to keep cleanliness, drinking water, electricity, accommodation and health services in order. Police have been deployed at sensitive spots, and the health department has been told to keep medical and emergency services ready. A large turnout of devotees and local people is expected at the ceremony.

Key numbers

• 22 April 2026: the day the Kedarnath doors opened this season, according to a post by Rudraprayag Police quoted by ETV Bharat.
• 203rd day: the stage the Kedarnath yatra had reached on 10 November, per the same post.
• About six months: how long the idol stays in Ukhimath, ANI reported.
• 9.57 lakh: pilgrims who visited Gangotri this season, according to Pioneer Edge.
• 10 lakh: the “at least” figure for Gangotri given by ETV Bharat, which differs from Pioneer Edge.

Gangotri Dham shuts for winter

Gangotri Dham closed on 10 November after special prayers, Abhishek and Aarti at the Ganga Ghat, ETV Bharat reported. The idol of Maa Ganga was placed in a decorated Utsav Doli and left for Mukhba, the goddess’s winter seat, to the music of an Army band. Thousands of devotees gathered to bid farewell.

Gangotri pilgrimage priest Rajesh Semwal said the doli would halt overnight at the Markandeypuri Devi Temple. It is due at Mukhba on Wednesday, which Pioneer Edge described as Bhaiya Dooj. Gangotri Temple Committee president Dharmanand Semwal said a large copper lamp in the shrine was filled with enough oil to keep the Akhand Jyoti burning through the winter.

Winter pilgrimage at Ukhimath

After the closing rituals, the doli of Baba Kedar will move to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath for winter worship, ANI reported. The idol returns to Kedarnath around Akshaya Tritiya in April or May, when the high-altitude doors reopen. Mishra said pilgrims begin arriving at Ukhimath for darshan once the doli is there.

“In this regard, we are also assessing the requirements for essential facilities in Ukhimath, including parking and toilets,” Mishra added, according to a second ANI report. Pioneer Edge reported that Yamunotri is also due to close to the public on Wednesday, and that this year’s Char Dham pilgrim count has broken the previous record, citing official data.

What happens next for the Kedarnath portals

The closing ceremony takes place on the morning of 11 November, after which the doli travels to Ukhimath. The reports do not give the exact auspicious hour, so devotees should check with the Rudraprayag administration or the temple committee. They also do not say how many pilgrims visited Kedarnath this season. For more state and national coverage, see our India desk.