After being closed for nearly six winter months, the shrines of Uttarakhand also known as the famous ‘Chardham’ or ‘four shrines’ re-opened their portal for pilgrims this April. While the shrines of Yamnotri and Gangotri were the first to open for pilgrimage on 18th of April, they were followed by Kedarnath Shrine opening on 29th April with Badrinath throwing open its portal to devotees and pilgrims at 4:30 a.m. today i.e. on 30th April.
Temples off-the-beaten path, such as Tungnath Temple will open on 5th of May, followed by Madmaheswar Temple on 18th May and Rudranath Temple will open on 19th May.
Along with the famous-four, the Sikh pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib will be the last to open its portal on the 25th of May.
Traditionally, the world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a grinding halt towards first week of November every year when these shrines become inaccessible due to heavy snowfall in the long cold, winter months. Following Spring, around Basant Panchami the dates for the re-opening of the shrines are announced as per ancient rites and rituals.
The State administration, under the watchful eye of the Centre has been working on war-footing over the past few months to ensure that facilities and road safety norms are in place before pilgrims from home and foreign shores start arriving in droves in the hill-state of Uttarakhand or ‘Devbhoomi’ as it is rightly called, to partake in what is considered, a pilgrimage of a lifetime.
Opening Dates of off-the-beaten-track temples:
Tungnath: 5th May
Madmaheshwar: 18th May
Rudranath :19th May
Hemkund: 25th May
