Char Dham 2026 closing dates, plus what to know if you're planning a late October or November trip

Quick heads-up for anyone planning a last-minute Char Dham trip. The temples close in the second week of November this year:

Important: Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath follow the Diwali calendar, so those dates are reliable. Badrinath's date is officially announced by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Vijayadashami (Dussehra) in October. Until then, 13 Nov is an estimate. Don't book non-refundable tickets around it yet. I'll update this post when the announcement comes out.

Some things we've seen that trip up late-season pilgrims:

• The closing day itself is not a darshan day. The kapat band ceremony runs in the morning, and the doli then leaves for the winter seat. If you want darshan, arrive at least 1–2 days before closing.
• Hotels and ponies thin out in the last week. Many dhabas and stays near Gaurikund and Janki Chatti shut down early. Book ahead or plan to stay lower down.
• It gets cold. Kedarnath drops below zero at night by late October, and early snow at Badrinath is common. Pack thermals, gloves and a proper jacket, not just a hoodie.
• Check the roads the morning you leave. As of late September, the Chirbasa stretch above Gaurikund is still being repaired after the 11 Sep rockfall, with police escorting walkers. IMD has also forecast heavy rain for 26–27 Sep. The district police X accounts (@RudraprayagPol, u/chamolipolice, u/UttarkashiPol) are the fastest source.
• October is honestly the best time to go. The monsoon is over, the skies are clear, and crowds are much smaller than in May–June. It's also cheaper.
• You can still get darshan after closing. The deities move to their winter seats. Ukhimath (Kedarnath's winter seat) is reachable by road all winter.

Disclosure: I work with Shiv Ganga Travels, a yatra operator in Haridwar. I'm not linking anything. I'm posting because we get this question a lot every October. Happy to answer questions in the comments.