Winter Char Dham Of Uttarakhand

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Category: Travel | Published: July 27, 2025 | Updated On: February 25, 2026

Introduction

Uttarakhand is well known as the Dev Bhoomi and is home to thousands of temples and Gurudwaras throughout the state. Out of these, some are very well-known and pilgrims across the globe visit this state to admire the beauty of this place and seek the blessings of these deities.

Out of these temples, the most famous pilgrimage of Uttarakhand is the Char Dham yatra , which includes the travel to Yamunotri , Gangotri , Kedarnath and Badrinath. But the biggest challenge in this pilgrimage is that it remains open just for six months in a year, from May to October. After that, it gets closed due to inaccessible terrains.

While closing these temples, the idols were ceremoniously transferred to their winter abodes to ensure uninterrupted darshan and worship of the deities. These four temples are collectively known as the winter Char Dham temples. However, these temples are lesser known but hold a similar significance. So let\'s begin and explore the unexplored.

Kharsali Temple (Yamunotri)

Located at an altitude of 2675 meters above sea level, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Kharshali village is a beautiful village surrounded by snow-capped peaks, dense deodar forest and melodies of the flowing Yamuna River. In addition to being naturally beautiful, this village also holds spiritual importance, as the temple in this village serves as the winter seat of Goddess Yamuna and the starting point of the Yamunotri trek during the 4 Dham yatra . When the high-altitude temple located in the lap of the Himalayas becomes inaccessible during the winter season, from November to late April, it becomes the winter seat of the goddess.

The Kharshali temple is one of the oldest temples of this region and holds great significance. This temple was built using wood and stone in Garhwali architecture, making it earthquake and thermal-resistant so that it can withstand the adverse and challenging climatic conditions of this region . In addition to the idol of Maa Yamuna, this temple compound also houses the idol of Sani dev, as he is considered to be the brother of Goddess Yamuna.

Shifting the idol of Goddess Yamuna, which is also known as "Utsav Murti Yatra", is not just a displacement, but it\'s a deep-rooted tradition which holds great significance. This procession takes place on the day of Bhai Dooj - a holy festival on which the bond between siblings is celebrated. The idol is carried in a palki with a grand procession, accompanied by priests chanting mantras, loud beating drums, with thousands of pilgrims and locals singing and dancing. The entire village came to welcome Goddess Yamuna to her new home. Devotees visiting this village during the winter season not only get blessed, but also get a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of this region, witness the raw culture of Kharshali village with their warm hospitality. During the winter season, this village and the nearby forest region get covered in snow, making it a winter wonderland.

Mukhba Temple (Gangotri)

Located at an altitude of 2620 meters above sea level, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Mukhba Temple is located in Mukhba village near Harshil. This temple serves as the winter seat of Maa Ganga, when the Gangotri temple is closed due to extreme weather conditions, ensuring uninterrupted worship of the deity. After the closure of the Gangotri temple, the idol of Goddess Gangotri is being carried to Mukhbha village in a ceremonial form, accompanied by locals, priests and devotees from all over India. This is not just a seasonal relocation, but a deep-rooted tradition which signifies the bond of the devotees with the divine power.

Unlike other grand temples of Uttarakhand, Mukhbha temple is very simple, made with stone and wood, reflecting the architectural tradition of the Garhwal region. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, deodar forest and apple orchard, this temple creates a perfect setting for the devotional seekers. In addition to being spiritually important, this place is also a perfect winter destination, creating a perfect mix of devotion with vibrant natural settings.

For ages, Mukhba served as the ancestral village of the Head priest of the Gangotri temple. For generations, people of this village had served Maa Ganga as the priest and local help. The transition of the idol occurs twice in a year, initially during the opening of the temple, which generally occurs on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, when deity is being transferred from Mukhba village to Gangotri temple and second during the closure of temple, when the idol is being transferred from Gangotri temple to the Mukhba village which generally occurs on the occasion of Diwali. The ceremony of welcoming the Goddess Gangotri to the Mukhba village is being celebrated as a festival. Devotees visiting this temple can witness the daily rituals and beautiful environment. Far away from the crowd, one can experience a personal connection with the deities.

Omkareshwar Temple (Kedarnath)

Located at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level in Ukhimath village of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Omkareshwar temple serves as the winter seat of lord Kedarnath. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, dense forest of deodar and a dramatic view of Himalayan peaks like Chaukhambha, adding to the temple\'s spiritual and visual beauty. Believed to have been constructed about 1000s years ago, linking to the era of the Mahabharata, and was constructed using stone and wood. This beautiful temple was built in the Katyuri/Nagara style of architecture, reflecting the architectural expertise of locals. The temple was built using massive stone and locally sourced stone, ensuring to withstands the harsh weather and shocks, as it is in earthquake earthquake-prone region. The temple room and outer area are decorated with a complicated design of deodar, which are easily found in this region.

The santrum Sanctorium of this temple houses the Shivlinga, which is being worshipped throughout the year. But during the winter season, it also houses the Utsav Murti, which is being brought from the Kedarnath temple in a ceremonial form on the occasion of Bhai dooj just after Diwali in a grand Palquin, accompanied by pujaries, locals and devotees from all over the globe.

On the same day, the summer Do Dham yatra , Kedarnath yatra and Char Dham yatra come to an end. During the presence of Utsav murti in this temple, all the rituals like aarti, abhishekam and offerings were performed as they are done at Kedarnath temple. It also increases the spiritual gravity of this temple, turning it into a replica of the original Dham. If you are not able to plan your Kedarnath trip during the summer season, then this is also a better option. Away from the large crowd which gathers in the Kedarnath temple, you can feel a personal connection with the deities during the winter season. Just call our customer care executive on 9311052232, and they will help you plan your Kedarnath trip package , Do Dham yatra package or Char Dham yatra Package perfectly.

Narsimha Temple(Badrinath)

Tucked on the slopes of snow-dropped mountain peaks, surrounded by dense forest and beautiful views, Narshimha temple is located at an altitude of 1875 meters in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, and serves as the winter abode of lord Badrinath and is an integral part of the winter Char Dham temples of Uttarakhand. When the Badrinath temple became inaccessible during the winter season, the ceremonial idol (Utsav Murti) was transferred to this temple during where it remains here till the spring season. This temple is located in Joshimath, a religious town founded by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th Century and is known for its remarkable beauty and was probably constructed in 8-10th centuries.

This temple was built using wood and stone with a sloped roof, depicting the local traditional architecture. It had withstood the test of time. Joshimath is also known as the starting point of one of the most beautiful treks, the Valley of Flowers trek and the journey to the world\'s highest Gurudwara, i.e. Hemkund Sahib . In addition to this, Joshimath is also known for the Narshimha temple, which holds great spiritual importance, and it is believed that the hand of lord Narshimha is getting thinner day by day. The day this hand will collapse, the mountains of Kedarnath and Badrinath with collide, making it inaccessible for the devotees.

Every year, during the month of October or November, the idol of lord Vishnu is transferred to this temple and remains here till Akshay Tritiya in April and May. The head priest of the Badrinath temple, who are generally Namboodiri Brahmins from Kerala, continue their duties in this temple following all the rituals like daily aarti, Vedic recitation and Abhishekam, allowing uninterrupted worship of the deity even in the harsh weather at Badrinth dham. All those devotees who are looking for peaceful devotion and want to have a deeper and personalised connection with the deity, visiting the Narshimha temple during the winter season is the best idea.

FAQs

What is the winter Char Dham?

The winter Char Dham is the winter abodes of the Char Dham temples, including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

Yamunotri Temple– Kharsali

Gangotri Temple– Mukhba

Kedarnath Temple– Ukhimath

Badrinath Temple– Joshimath

Which dham is open in December?

The main Char Dham remains closed in winter due to heavy snowfall, but the winter abodes of Char Dham stay open in December for pilgrims. The idols of the Char Dham shifted to their winter seats.

What are the 4 pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand?

The 4 pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, known as Char Dham, are the four sacred shrines located in four different temples in Uttarakhand, including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Char Dham is considered a famous and sacred pilgrimage site in India, often known as the journey of salvation.

Where is the Kedarnath Idol kept in winter?

The idol of Kedarnath Dham is shifted to the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath during winter from December to April, due to extreme cold weather and heavy snowfall, which is often known as the winter seat of Kedarnath.