{"id":84,"date":"2026-11-11T07:34:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T07:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.badrikedar.org\/tourism\/winter-chardham-yatra\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T07:34:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T07:34:35","slug":"winter-chardham-yatra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.badrikedar.org\/tourism\/winter-chardham-yatra\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Chardham Yatra: Darshan at the Winter Abodes (November\u2013April)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"bk-toc\">\n<strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-winter-chardham\">What Is the Winter Chardham Yatra?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#closing-dates-2026\">Chardham Closing Dates 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#winter-seats-at-a-glance\">The Four Winter Abodes at a Glance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#omkareshwar-ukhimath\">Kedarnath in Winter: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pandukeshwar-joshimath\">Badrinath in Winter: Pandukeshwar and Joshimath<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mukhba\">Gangotri in Winter: Mukhba Village<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#kharsali\">Yamunotri in Winter: Kharsali Village<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#doli-yatra\">The Doli Yatra: How the Deities Travel Down<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#winter-chardham-route\">Winter Chardham Yatra Route and Suggested Itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#weather-roads\">Weather, Roads and When to Go<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#practical-tips\">Practical Tips: Stay, Registration, Packing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Every year, after Diwali, the kapat (doors) of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri close for the winter and the high shrines go quiet under snow. Many pilgrims assume this means the yatra is over until spring. It is not. The deities are carried down in decorated palanquins to their winter abodes at lower altitude, where daily worship continues for the next six months. Visiting these four seats between November and April is what is now called the <strong>winter Chardham yatra<\/strong>, and it offers something the summer season rarely does: unhurried darshan, small crowds and the same divine presence, worshipped in its winter home.<\/p>\n<p>This guide explains where each deity resides in winter, how the doli procession works, the 2026 closing dates, a realistic route plan, and what to expect from the roads and weather. It is written for pilgrims planning a winter visit from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-winter-chardham\">What Is the Winter Chardham Yatra?<\/h2>\n<p>The four Himalayan dhams sit between roughly 3,000 and 3,600 metres. From November, heavy snowfall makes the temples and approach routes unsafe, so the temple committees close them on auspicious dates fixed from the panchang, usually around Annakut, Bhai Dooj and the days after. Before the doors close, the akhand jyoti is lit and the chal vigraha (the movable utsav idol) of the deity is placed in a doli and carried down to a village temple that has been the deity&#8217;s winter seat for centuries.<\/p>\n<p>Tradition holds that during these months the main shrine is left to the devtas for their own worship, while human devotees continue puja at the winter seat. For a pilgrim, darshan at the winter abode is therefore regarded as darshan of the same deity. The winter Chardham yatra is simply the circuit of these four winter seats: Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, the Pandukeshwar and Joshimath shrines for Badrinath, Mukhba near Harsil, and Kharsali near Janki Chatti.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-info-box\">\n<strong>Why the state promotes it:<\/strong> Uttarakhand has been actively encouraging winter pilgrimage to spread visitor numbers across the year and support local livelihoods once the summer season ends. In March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mukhba, the winter seat of Maa Ganga, and nearby Harsil specifically to highlight winter tourism in the region.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"closing-dates-2026\">Chardham Closing Dates 2026<\/h2>\n<p>The temple committees announced the 2026 closing dates in October. These are ritual timings, meaning the moment the doors are formally shut after the final puja, not a last-entry time for general darshan. The last full day of regular darshan is normally the day before closing.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Dham<\/th>\n<th>Closing Date 2026<\/th>\n<th>Time (approx.)<\/th>\n<th>Occasion<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Gangotri<\/td>\n<td>10 November 2026<\/td>\n<td>12:05 pm<\/td>\n<td>Annakut (Govardhan Puja)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kedarnath<\/td>\n<td>11 November 2026<\/td>\n<td>8:30 am<\/td>\n<td>Bhai Dooj<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yamunotri<\/td>\n<td>11 November 2026<\/td>\n<td>10:28 am<\/td>\n<td>Bhai Dooj<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Badrinath<\/td>\n<td>16 November 2026<\/td>\n<td>9:37 pm<\/td>\n<td>Fixed by panchang<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>At Badrinath, the closing is preceded by the traditional Panch Puja, which begins a few days earlier with the closing of the Ganesh temple, followed by Adi Kedareshwar, the reading of the Vedas, and finally the invitation to Mata Lakshmi to enter the sanctum beside Lord Badri Vishal for the winter. Among the smaller shrines, Tungnath closed on 6 November and Madmaheshwar on 16 November 2026.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-warning-box\">\n<strong>Check before you travel:<\/strong> Closing times are occasionally revised by the temple committees. If you are trying to attend a closing ceremony, confirm the time with the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) or the respective Gangotri and Yamunotri temple committees a few days in advance, and keep a buffer day in case early snow closes the higher roads.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"winter-seats-at-a-glance\">The Four Winter Abodes at a Glance<\/h2>\n<p>All four winter seats are reachable by road and sit far lower than the main dhams, which is what makes winter darshan possible. Distances below are approximate road distances and can change with diversions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Summer Dham<\/th>\n<th>Winter Abode<\/th>\n<th>District<\/th>\n<th>Approx. Altitude<\/th>\n<th>From Rishikesh<\/th>\n<th>From Haridwar<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Kedarnath<\/td>\n<td>Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath<\/td>\n<td>Rudraprayag<\/td>\n<td>~1,300 m<\/td>\n<td>~178 km<\/td>\n<td>~201 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Badrinath<\/td>\n<td>Yogadhyan Badri (Pandukeshwar) and Narsingh Temple (Joshimath)<\/td>\n<td>Chamoli<\/td>\n<td>~1,800\u20131,900 m<\/td>\n<td>~247 km (Joshimath)<\/td>\n<td>~271 km (Joshimath)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Gangotri<\/td>\n<td>Ganga Temple, Mukhba (Mukhimath)<\/td>\n<td>Uttarkashi<\/td>\n<td>~2,600 m<\/td>\n<td>~240 km<\/td>\n<td>~266 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yamunotri<\/td>\n<td>Yamuna Temple, Kharsali (Khushimath)<\/td>\n<td>Uttarkashi<\/td>\n<td>~2,650 m<\/td>\n<td>~233 km<\/td>\n<td>~238 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Notice that Mukhba and Kharsali are noticeably higher than Ukhimath and Joshimath. They receive real snowfall in mid-winter, so the Uttarkashi side of the circuit needs more weather planning than the Kedarnath and Badrinath side.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"omkareshwar-ukhimath\">Kedarnath in Winter: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath<\/h2>\n<p>When the doors of Kedarnath close, the panchmukhi utsav murti of Baba Kedar is carried down to the <strong>Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath<\/strong>, which serves as the winter seat of both Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar. The Rawal, the chief priest of Kedarnath who traditionally comes from the Veerashaiva lineage of Karnataka, is also based at Ukhimath, which makes the town the spiritual headquarters of the Kedar tradition through the winter.<\/p>\n<p>The temple is linked in local lore to the story of Usha, daughter of the asura king Banasura, and Aniruddha, grandson of Lord Krishna, whose marriage is said to have taken place here. The name Ukhimath is often traced to &#8220;Usha Math&#8221;. The temple complex has shrines to Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, so a visit here lets you pay respects to all of the Panch Kedar in one place, something not possible even in summer.<\/p>\n<p>Ukhimath sits on the road between Kund and Chopta, roughly 45 km from Rudraprayag via Kund. Daily morning and evening puja and aarti continue throughout the winter. Because the town is low enough to stay largely snow-free, this is the easiest of the four winter abodes to reach in any month.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-tip-box\">\n<strong>Combine it well:<\/strong> From Ukhimath, the drive to Chopta (the base for Tungnath) is short, and on clear winter days the views of Chaukhamba from the Ukhimath ridge are exceptional. Note that the Chopta road can be blocked by snow in January and February, so treat it as an optional add-on rather than a fixed part of the plan.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"pandukeshwar-joshimath\">Badrinath in Winter: Pandukeshwar and Joshimath<\/h2>\n<p>Badrinath&#8217;s winter arrangement is the most layered of the four. After the doors close, the doli carrying the utsav idols of <strong>Uddhav ji<\/strong> (Lord Krishna&#8217;s friend and representative) and <strong>Kuber ji<\/strong>, the god of wealth, sets out the next morning along with the <strong>gaddi of Adi Shankaracharya<\/strong>. Uddhav and Kuber remain at <strong>Pandukeshwar<\/strong> for the winter, where the Yogadhyan Badri temple, one of the Panch Badri, is worshipped as the seat of Lord Badri. The gaddi of Adi Shankaracharya continues to the <strong>Narsingh Temple in Joshimath<\/strong>, which is why Joshimath is widely described as Badrinath&#8217;s winter seat.<\/p>\n<p>Pandukeshwar is named after King Pandu, father of the Pandavas, who is believed to have meditated here; the Yogadhyan Badri idol is depicted in a meditative posture. Joshimath, or Jyotirmath, is where Adi Shankaracharya established one of his four cardinal maths, and the Narsingh Temple houses an idol of Lord Narsingh whose left wrist, according to a well-known local belief, grows thinner over time.<\/p>\n<p>A pilgrim on the winter Chardham yatra usually visits both: Narsingh Temple and Jyotirmath in Joshimath, and the drive of roughly 20\u201325 km towards Badrinath, just past Govindghat, to Yogadhyan Badri at Pandukeshwar. The road beyond towards Badrinath is closed to pilgrims in winter, so plan to turn back from Pandukeshwar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-info-box\">\n<strong>A note on Joshimath:<\/strong> Parts of Joshimath were affected by land subsidence in early 2023, and construction is regulated in some zones. The temples, market and main hotels are functioning, but follow any local administration advisories and avoid restricted areas.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"mukhba\">Gangotri in Winter: Mukhba Village<\/h2>\n<p>The day after Gangotri closes, the doli of Maa Ganga is carried in procession to <strong>Mukhba<\/strong>, also known as Mukhimath, a village on the bank of the Bhagirathi opposite Harsil, about 25 km below Gangotri. Mukhba is the home of the Semwal family of priests who serve at Gangotri, which is why the goddess winters here. The village temple, in traditional Garhwali stone-and-wood architecture, becomes the focus of daily worship until the doors of Gangotri reopen on Akshaya Tritiya.<\/p>\n<p>Mukhba has a beautiful setting, with apple orchards, deodar forests and snow peaks around Harsil. It is also the highest and most snow-prone of the winter abodes along with Kharsali. In December and January the stretch beyond Uttarkashi towards Harsil can see fresh snowfall, and road clearing is usually done by the Border Roads Organisation, but delays of a day are possible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-tip-box\">\n<strong>Where to base yourself:<\/strong> Harsil, across the river from Mukhba, has the closest guesthouses and homestays, but options are limited in winter. Uttarkashi, about 75 km away, has many more hotels and is a safer base if the weather forecast is uncertain.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"kharsali\">Yamunotri in Winter: Kharsali Village<\/h2>\n<p>The winter abode of Maa Yamuna is <strong>Kharsali<\/strong>, also called Khushimath, a village about 1 km across the river from Janki Chatti, the road head for the summer Yamunotri trek. On the day Yamunotri closes, which falls on Bhai Dooj, the doli of the goddess is escorted down by the doli of <strong>Shani Dev (Someshwar Devta)<\/strong>, who is regarded as her brother. This fits the mythology neatly: Yamuna and Shani are both children of Surya Dev, and Bhai Dooj itself commemorates Yamuna&#8217;s welcome of her brother Yama.<\/p>\n<p>Kharsali has an old multi-storeyed Shani temple, considered one of the oldest in the region, alongside the Yamuna temple where winter worship takes place. Because Kharsali is reachable by road, it removes the need for the steep summer trek, which makes it one of the most accessible ways for elderly pilgrims to have darshan of Maa Yamuna.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-warning-box\">\n<strong>Snow risk:<\/strong> Kharsali and Janki Chatti lie at around 2,600 metres and can see heavy snow from late December. The road from Barkot to Janki Chatti is generally kept open, but check conditions in Barkot before driving up, and avoid travelling after dark on this stretch.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"doli-yatra\">The Doli Yatra: How the Deities Travel Down<\/h2>\n<p>The doli yatra is one of the most moving sights of the Himalayan pilgrimage calendar. After the final puja at each dham, the decorated palanquin carrying the utsav idol is lifted by devotees and escorted by priests, local deity dolis, drum and bugle players, and often an Army band, to its winter seat. The procession halts at villages along the way, where residents offer prayers and food.<\/p>\n<p>Kedarnath&#8217;s doli takes about three days to reach Ukhimath, halting at places such as Rampur and Guptkashi. Badrinath&#8217;s doli departs the morning after closing for Pandukeshwar and Joshimath. Gangotri&#8217;s doli reaches Mukhba the day after closing, and Yamunotri&#8217;s doli reaches Kharsali the same day. Once the dolis arrive, the deities are installed and winter puja begins, usually from the next day.<\/p>\n<p>If you are travelling in the second or third week of November, it is possible to witness a doli procession arriving at Ukhimath or Joshimath. These are devotional events with large local participation, so arrive early and respect the processional route.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"winter-chardham-route\">Winter Chardham Yatra Route and Suggested Itinerary<\/h2>\n<p>The winter Chardham route is essentially the same road network as the summer yatra, minus the high final stretches. A comfortable circuit from Haridwar or Rishikesh takes six to eight days. The traditional order follows the summer sequence, west to east: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Day<\/th>\n<th>Route<\/th>\n<th>Darshan \/ Highlight<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>Haridwar \/ Rishikesh to Barkot<\/td>\n<td>Drive via Dehradun\u2013Mussoorie or Chamba<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>Barkot to Kharsali and back to Barkot<\/td>\n<td>Maa Yamuna and Shani Dev temple, Kharsali<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td>Barkot to Uttarkashi<\/td>\n<td>Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttarkashi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Uttarkashi to Mukhba and back<\/td>\n<td>Maa Ganga at Mukhba; Harsil valley<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td>Uttarkashi to Guptkashi \/ Ukhimath<\/td>\n<td>Long drive via Tehri and Ghansali or via Srinagar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>Ukhimath to Joshimath<\/td>\n<td>Omkareshwar darshan in the morning; drive via Chopta (if open) or Rudraprayag\u2013Karnaprayag<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td>Joshimath \u2013 Pandukeshwar \u2013 Joshimath<\/td>\n<td>Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath, Yogadhyan Badri<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>Joshimath to Rishikesh \/ Haridwar<\/td>\n<td>Devprayag sangam on the way<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Pilgrims short on time often do a <strong>winter Do Dham<\/strong> covering only Ukhimath and Joshimath, which can be done comfortably in four to five days from Rishikesh because both seats lie on lower, more reliable roads.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-tip-box\">\n<strong>Drive in daylight:<\/strong> Winter days in the hills are short and roads can ice over after sunset, especially in shaded bends. Plan to start by 7 am and reach your night halt before 4:30 pm. This single habit makes the winter route far safer.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"weather-roads\">Weather, Roads and When to Go<\/h2>\n<p>Weather varies sharply between the four abodes. Ukhimath and Joshimath see cold but mostly dry winters with occasional snow; daytime temperatures are often pleasant in sunshine and drop close to or below freezing at night. Mukhba and Kharsali are colder and see regular snowfall from late December through February.<\/p>\n<p>In practical terms, the best windows for the winter Chardham yatra are:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mid-November to mid-December:<\/strong> Clear skies, sharp mountain views, and roads generally open. This is the most reliable period, and you may catch the doli arrivals in November.<\/p>\n<p><strong>January to mid-February:<\/strong> The coldest and snowiest period. Roads to Mukhba and Kharsali may close temporarily after snowfall. Good for those who want snow, but keep two buffer days.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Late February to April:<\/strong> Temperatures ease, the snow line recedes, and the Uttarkashi side becomes easier again. The season ends when the main dhams reopen around Akshaya Tritiya in late April or May.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bk-warning-box\">\n<strong>Know the warning signs:<\/strong> Follow India Meteorological Department (IMD) district forecasts for Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli. If an orange or red alert for snowfall is issued, postpone the higher legs. Landslide-prone stretches between Rishikesh and Srinagar and around Uttarkashi can also cause delays even in dry weather.\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"practical-tips\">Practical Tips: Stay, Registration, Packing<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Accommodation:<\/strong> Many seasonal hotels on the summer route close in winter, but the towns serving the winter abodes keep functioning. Practical bases are Barkot for Kharsali, Uttarkashi or Harsil for Mukhba, Guptkashi or Ukhimath for Omkareshwar, and Joshimath for Narsingh Temple and Pandukeshwar. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) rest houses operate in several of these towns. Book ahead for Christmas and New Year, when Auli and Joshimath fill up with snow tourists.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Registration:<\/strong> Registration through the Uttarakhand Tourism portal is mandatory for the summer Char Dham yatra. For winter seats, practices have varied from year to year, so check the official registration portal and the BKTC website before you travel rather than relying on older articles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cash and connectivity:<\/strong> ATMs are available in Barkot, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, Ukhimath and Joshimath, but can run dry. Carry enough cash for two or three days. Mobile coverage is generally available in these towns, though patchy on the roads between them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Packing:<\/strong> Thermal innerwear, a down or heavy fleece jacket, woollen cap, gloves, warm socks and waterproof shoes with good grip are essential. Carry a thermos for hot water, lip balm, sunscreen (the winter sun at altitude is strong), and any personal medicines. Elderly pilgrims should consult a doctor before travel, as cold affects blood pressure and breathing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vehicle:<\/strong> If hiring a car, ask whether the driver has winter mountain experience and whether the vehicle carries snow chains for the Harsil and Janki Chatti legs.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>Is darshan at the winter abodes considered equal to darshan at the main dhams?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In tradition, yes. The utsav idol of the deity is formally carried from the main shrine to the winter seat and worshipped there daily, so devotees regard winter darshan as darshan of the same deity. Many pilgrims who cannot manage the altitude or treks of the summer yatra choose the winter circuit for this reason.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>Where is Lord Kedarnath worshipped in winter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, Rudraprayag district. It is also the winter seat of Madmaheshwar, and the temple has shrines to all five of the Panch Kedar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>Where is Lord Badrinath worshipped in winter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The utsav idols of Uddhav and Kuber stay at Pandukeshwar, where Yogadhyan Badri is worshipped, while the gaddi of Adi Shankaracharya resides at the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath. Pilgrims usually visit both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>When do the Chardham temples close in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gangotri closed on 10 November, Kedarnath and Yamunotri on 11 November (Bhai Dooj), and Badrinath closes on 16 November 2026 at about 9:37 pm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>How many days do I need for the winter Chardham yatra?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Plan six to eight days from Haridwar or Rishikesh for all four winter abodes, plus one or two buffer days for weather. A winter Do Dham covering only Ukhimath and Joshimath can be done in four to five days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>Is the winter Chardham yatra suitable for senior citizens?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is easier in one important way: all four winter abodes are reachable by road, so there are no long treks. However, the cold is the main challenge. Senior pilgrims should travel in November\u2013December or March\u2013April, dress in layers, avoid night driving and carry their medicines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>Can I visit Kedarnath temple itself in winter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No. The temple is closed and the trek route from Gaurikund is buried under snow and not open to pilgrims. Darshan of Baba Kedar in winter takes place at Ukhimath.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bk-faq-item\">\n<strong>When do the main dhams reopen?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally reopen on Akshaya Tritiya, usually in late April or early May. Kedarnath&#8217;s date is announced on Mahashivratri and Badrinath&#8217;s on Basant Panchami. The deities return from their winter seats in doli processions just before reopening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The winter Chardham yatra asks for a little more planning around weather and daylight, but it rewards you with quiet temples, crisp Himalayan views and a closer feel for the living traditions of Garhwal, from the Rawal&#8217;s seat at Ukhimath to the priestly villages of Mukhba and Kharsali. Whether you are completing a yatra you could not finish in summer or simply seeking a calmer darshan, the winter abodes keep the doors of the Chardham open all year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A complete winter Chardham yatra guide: where Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are worshipped from November to April, 2026 closing dates, route, weather and tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chardham-yatra-guide"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Winter Chardham Yatra: Darshan at the Winter Abodes (November\u2013April) - Badri Kedar Tourism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winter Chardham yatra guide: winter abodes at Ukhimath, Joshimath-Pandukeshwar, Mukhba &amp; Kharsali, 2026 closing dates, route, weather and tips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.badrikedar.org\/tourism\/winter-chardham-yatra\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter Chardham Yatra: Darshan at the Winter Abodes (November\u2013April) - 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