Kedarnath Yatra 2024: Opening Date and Registration

You can register at Kedarnath dham official website, through Whatsapp, and through Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.

The holy pilgrimage to the Kedarnath Temple located in Indian state of Uttarakhand is referred to as Kedarnath Yatra. Kedarnath temple is situated on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath town. The word Kedarnath is made from two words- kedar meaning field and nath meaning lord.

Thus, Kedarnath Temple is the ‘temple of the lord of the field’ and is dedicated to Shiva. One of the sacred pilgrimage site of Hindus, Kedarnath is also a part of Chota Char Dham and Panch Kedar in Uttarakhand and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Devotees in large numbers plan for Kedarnath Yatra which is managed by the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board (UCDDMB).

Kedarnath Yatra 2024 Overview

Kedarnath Yatra Opening and Closing Date in 2024

Please find below the date of opening and closing Kedarnath yatra in 2024:

Kedarnath Yatra Opening Date: 11 May 2024

Kedarnath Yatra Closing Date: Expected in November 2024

About Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath temple is located in Kedarnath town on the bank of Mandakini river and stands at an altitude of 3584 meters above sea level. According to Hindu legends, the Pandvas were the one to build the Kedarnath temple when they found tail of Shiva (when he took the form of a bull) in this place. The Kedarnath temple is a part of Chota Char Dham, meaning ‘the small circuit of four seats’, with the rest three sites being Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath. 

Kedarnath Temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (in fact the highest of all) and is the closest Jyotirlinga to eternal abode of Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash.

There is no way to reach the temple directly by road and the journey consists of a 22 kilometres uphill trek from Gaurikund. Pony and manchan services are made available to reach the temple. Owing to extreme weather conditions in the winters, the temple is open to visit only between April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima). During the period from November to April (or May), the statue of Lord Shiva is carried down from the Kedarnath to Ukhimath where it is worshiped for the next six months.

Story of Five Temples (Panch Kedar)

Panch Kedar is the name given to the five temples (panch meaning five) where Shiva hid his body parts when running from the Pandavas taking the form of Nandi bull. As per the legend, after winning the battle at kurukshetra, the Pandavas felt guilty of having killed the members of their own kin and sought blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. Shiva was unwilling to forgive them and therefore he tried to escape from them. While fleeing he took the form of a bull and hid among the cattle in the hill.

On being found by the Pandavas, Lord Shiva dived into the ground and his hump was left on the surface at Kedarnath. The remaining portions of his body appeared at four other places- the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madhya Maheshwara and his hair at Kalpeshwar with head at the Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple. Altogether the five shrines are called and worshiped as Panch Kedar.

When should you visit Kedarnath?

Kedarnath observes a heavy snowfall in winter and the temple covers itself with many layers of snow thus making it very difficult to reach. During the time period from November to April, the temple therefore closes its door for the pilgrims.

At the starting of winter every year, normally the first week of November, an auspicious date is announced by Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board when the symbolic statue of Lord Shiva is carried down from Kedarnath temple to Ukhimath. In the first week of May, again an auspicious date is announced when the statue is carried back from Ukhimath to Kedarnath and reinstated in the original place.

It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are opened again for the pilgrims. So any time period from May to November is the considered as the best time to visit Kedarnath. The opening and closing dates of the temples in Chota Char Dham, including Kedarnath, are decided and released by the board and the Kedarnath Yatra 2024 can be planned according to these dates.

Kedarnath Yatra 2024 Registration

Pilgrims planning for the Kedarnath Yatra 2024 or Chota Char Dham Yatra they need to register online from the official website of UCDDMB. Alternatively, they may also register through Whatsapp or through Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.

Kedarnath yatra Whatsapp registration: Save the mobile number +91 8394833833 and Type: “Yatra” to start the registration process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration process.

Kedarnath yatra registration through mobile app: Download ‘Tourist Care Uttarakhand’ app on your Android and iOS devide and register for the yatra.

Registration can be done for puja, aarti, accommodation, etc by providing basic details like name, gender, email id and mobile number. An OTP will be received on the registered email address and phone number using which the process of registration can be completed.

Yatra pass are provided after successful registration of the devotees and only those with a pass are allowed to visit the shrine (temple).

You need to follow the steps as shared below if want to register at its official website:

Step 1: You need to visit the official website of Kedarnath Yatra 2024- https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/index.php.

Step 2: For new registration click the link “Register yourself here for Chardham and Hemkund Sahib”

Step 3: Complete online registration for Kedarnath Yatra. Enter details like your name, mobile number, tour company name, GST number among other details.

How to Book Pooja at Kedarnath Dham?

Download Your Yatri Darshan Certificate

You need to visit the official website of Kedarnath yatra- https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/yatri_darshan_certificate.php.

How to Reach Kedarnath Easily?

It is possible to reach Kedarnath dham by road, flight and train.

By train: If you decide to travel by train then the nearest railway station for you is Rishikesh. The distance between Rishiksh railway station and Gaurikund is just 243 kms. You can easily reach Rishikesh from all major destinations in India. After reaching Rishikesh, you can travel either by taxi or bus to reach Gaurikund.

By Road: You can easily reach Gaurikund by road from all major places in Uttarakhand including Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Tehri etc.

By Flight: The nearest airport for Kedarnath dham is Jolly Grant Airport which is at a distance of just 35 kms from Dehradun and 235kms from Kedarnath. After reaching Jolly Grant Airport you will get taxis to reach Gaurikund.

Kedarnath Yatra Helpline Number

Address: Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Paryatan Bhawan, Near ONGC Helipad, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun-248001 (India)

Mobile number- 0135 – 2559898, 2552627, 0135 – 3520100

Email: touristcare.uttarakhand@challa

Toll Free Contact Number

For Uttarakhand :1364

For other States : +91 135 1364

Emergency Helplines

HelpLine : 1364

Emergency Number : 112

Medical Emergency : 108

Also check: Badrinath Yatra 2024

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