Dehradun, Closed for nearly six winter months, the shrines of Uttarakhand, better known as the Chardham will re-open their portals for pilgrimage in less than three weeks.
Yamnotri, Gangotri Shrines will be the first to open their portals on the 7th of May, at 11:30 a.m. followed by Kedarnath on the 9th of May at 5.35 a.m. and then Badrinath shrine at 4:45 a.m. on the 10th of May.
The Sikh pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib, tucked away it into the mountains, will be the last to open on 1st of June, with the work to clear seven feet of snow enroute to the shrine to begin from 28th of April. Along with these famous-four, off-the-beaten Chardham route temples dedicated to Lord Shiva such as Tungnath will re-open on 10th of May, followed by Rudranath on 19th and Madmaheswar on the 21st of May with the world famous Valley of Flowers to reopen on 1st of June as well.
Located in the inner reaches of Rudraprayag and Chamoli district these off-the-beaten-track temples are visited by thousand of tourists and pilgrims alike when they reopen for pilgrimage, each year. Nestled in one of the most picturesque environs, these temples fall under the panch-kedar and hold reverence amongst local habitants and outsiders, too.
Traditionally, the annual world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a halt close to Diwali, before the shrines become inaccessible due to heavy snowfall in the long winter months. Following spring, around Basant Panchami, dates for the re-opening of the shrines are announced as per ancient rites and rituals giving people ample time to plan their pilgrimage into the hill districts of Uttarakhand.
The Uttarakhand State administration has been working overtime, even in the heart of severe winter, under the watchful eye of the Centre to ensure that facilities and all-weather-road safety norms are in place before pilgrims from home and foreign shores start arriving in droves in ‘Devbhoomi’ as the hill-state is rightly called, to partake in what is considered, a pilgrimage of a lifetime.
Chardham Opening dates:
Yamnotri : 7th May
Gangotri : 7th May
Kedarnath: 9th May
Badrinath : 10th May
Off-the-beaten-track temples:
Tungnath: 10th May
Rudranath :19th May
Madmaheshwar: 21st May
Hemkund: 1st June
