📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shivam Kumar 766
Religion
Winter Closure of Kedarnath and Yamunotri Pilgrimage Routes Announced
✍️ Pioneer Edge
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 09:39 PM
👁 18
The access portals to the Kedarnath and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarakhand have been shut for the winter season, authorities said.
The gateways leading to the Kedarnath and Yamunotri pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand have been officially closed for the winter period, the state tourism department announced. The decision comes as the high‑altitude routes become hazardous due to heavy snowfall and low temperatures.
Authorities cited safety concerns for pilgrims and local staff as the primary reason for the seasonal shutdown. Road and trekking paths that connect the base towns to the shrines are prone to landslides and avalanches during the colder months, making travel risky.
The closure will remain in effect until the onset of the spring thaw, when weather conditions improve and the routes can be cleared safely. Devotees planning to visit the sacred sites are advised to postpone their trips or consider alternative destinations until the portals are reopened.
Local businesses that depend on pilgrimage traffic are expected to experience a temporary dip in revenue, but officials assured that support measures will be in place for affected communities. The tourism department will issue a formal notice regarding the exact reopening date once the snow recedes.
Authorities cited safety concerns for pilgrims and local staff as the primary reason for the seasonal shutdown. Road and trekking paths that connect the base towns to the shrines are prone to landslides and avalanches during the colder months, making travel risky.
The closure will remain in effect until the onset of the spring thaw, when weather conditions improve and the routes can be cleared safely. Devotees planning to visit the sacred sites are advised to postpone their trips or consider alternative destinations until the portals are reopened.
Local businesses that depend on pilgrimage traffic are expected to experience a temporary dip in revenue, but officials assured that support measures will be in place for affected communities. The tourism department will issue a formal notice regarding the exact reopening date once the snow recedes.