Chardham Yatra Opening and Closing Dates 2021

Are you planning to take up the Char Dham pilgrimage tour in 2021? Since the pilgrimage sites have a short opening time and a strict schedule, it is best to prepare in advance. Most of the pilgrims would have missed their pilgrimage in 2021 due to the pandemic and thus, the demand for facilities would be sky-high too. Here is the detailed schedule for 2021 for you to prepare ahead.

Opening and Closing Date of Temple

Also Read - Significance of Chardham Yatra

The temples of the Char Dham pilgrimage route stand at high altitudes in the Himalayas. Thus, the temples are open only during the summer season, when it is humanely possible to cover the route. The temples will be open from April-May to October-November. During the remaining months, the main idols of the temples will be shifted to their winter abodes, and the rituals continue in those temples. Tourists can visit the winter abodes during the winter season for pilgrimage activities.

Opening and Closing Dates

Temple	Opening date	Closing date
Yamunotri	14/5/2021	06/11/2021
Gangotri	14/5/2021	05/11/2021
Kedarnath	17/5/2021	06/11/2021
Badrinath	18/5/2021	10/11/2021

Why is it a tentative date? The actual date of the opening varies with the lunar cycle for each temple. Thus, it is possible only to give a tentative date at an earlier time.

Opening and closing date for Kedarnath Temple

The temple opens on the Maha Shivratri, which falls in April or May, every day. On Bhai Dooj, the temple closes, which falls in October or November. On the Bhai Dooj day, the final rituals take place, and the temple doors will be closed for the winters until the next Maha Shivratri.

Opening and closing date for Badrinath Temple

The temple opens on Basant Panchami, which changes every year based on the lunar cycle between April and May. The closing day falls on Vijayadasmi, which falls on either October or November. The Char Dham pilgrimage ends at Badrinath Temple. Thus, Vijayadasmi is the official end date of the Char Dham pilgrimage.

Opening and Closing date for Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri Dham opens on Akshay Tritya day. Similar to Kedarnath Temple, the Yamunotri Dham also closes on Bhai Dooj. The Char Dham pilgrimage tour officially begins on Akshay Tritya or Akha Teej, an auspicious day, which is said to bring loads of good luck in any venture. The Char Dham starts at Yamunotri Dham and moves on to Gangotri and the other temples in a clockwise direction.

Opening and Closing date for Gangotri Temple

The Gangotri Temple will be open from Akshay Tritya, similar to the Yamunotri Temple. However, Gangotri Dham closes on Diwali, after the special rituals of the day. And, the temple stays closed until next Akshay Tritya.

Opening and Closing date for Helicopter Tours

The opening and closing time for Chardham yatra by helicopter rides usually matches the temple timings. The helicopter tours are available from May to October, other than the monsoon months. However, each service provider will have a different schedule, and it is best to pre-book as early as possible.