Best time to visit Kedarnath — when the temple is open
The season at Kedarnath is set by the temple. The Kedarnath Temple opens in April, on Akshaya Tritiya, and closes in November, on Kartika Purnima, the autumn full moon, and the dates are announced each year. Wikipedia names only the climate type for Kedarnath, a monsoon-influenced subarctic one, and has no weather table, so we give no monthly figures.
April to June
The opening months. The walk from Gauri Kund is open and the days are long. It is the busiest part of the year, so leave your bookings and your registration early.
July to September
The monsoon. Rain and the 2013 floods are the reasons to travel with spare days and to check the day's advice every morning: the river and slopes are at their worst for slips and landslides. September, as the rains ease, is quieter.
October and November
The closing weeks, until the temple shuts on Kartika Purnima. The days are shorter and colder, and the walk is best started early.
December to March
The temple is shut under heavy snow. From November to April the deity is worshipped at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, which you can visit in these months.
Plans for the season
The two-day walk works in any open month, and the one-day road plan is the one to use when the weather stops the climb. Read how to reach Kedarnath and things to do near Kedarnath.
Places around Kedarnath
The Kedarnath guide →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What is the best month to visit Kedarnath?
May and June, soon after the temple opens, and September and October, after the rains. The temple is open only from April to November. July and August bring the monsoon, when rain, slips and landslides are the main risks, so travel then only with spare days and check the day's advice each morning.
Is Kedarnath open in winter?
No. Heavy snow closes the temple from about November to April. In those months the deity is carried down to the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath and worshipped there. The opening and closing dates are set each year, so check the temple committee's announcement before you plan.
Why is Kedarnath dangerous in the monsoon?
The valley was hit by catastrophic floods and landslides on 16 and 17 June 2013, which nearly destroyed the town. Rain, swollen rivers and slips remain the risk in the wet months. Wikipedia does not give a current safety rule, so follow the day's advice at Gaurikund and turn back if it is bad.