Yamunotri Temple Opening and Closing date 2026

About Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri is a sacred pilgrimage shrine, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3,293 meters (10,803 feet) above sea level, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and dense forests.  It is a part of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage sites (the first stop of the yatra) and is renowned as the origin of the Yamuna River. Yamunotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna (the second most sacred river in Hinduism) and its ties with a legend of sage Asit Muni’s devotion, which shapes the spiritual aura and divine grace of this region. It is believed that Sage Asit Muni lived so many years at this sacred shrine and dedicated his whole life to devotion to the Yamuna and Ganga rivers.  It is accessible via a 6 km trek that starts from Janki Chatti. 

Yamunotri Temple opening and closing Dates 2026

Since the opening and closing dates of Yamunotri are not determined, they are officially announced by the Char Dham temple committee after consulting the Hindu Panchang and celestial movements. Traditionally, the temple is open on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya (which falls in April or May) and closed on Bhai Dooj (which falls in October or November). Yet the official dates are not announced, but here are the tentative opening and closing dates for 2026. 

Yamunotri Opening date 2026

The Opening date of Yamunotri for 2026 is announced on the sacred day of Yamuna Jayanti or Mahashivratri (which falls in Feb/March). Yamuna Jyanti is marked as the holy day of the descent of Maa Yamuna on earth. 

Yamuna Jayanti (Yamuna Chhath) in 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, which is the sixth day (Shashthi) of Shukla Paksha in the Chaitra month according to the Hindu calendar.​

It involves a grand ceremony called the “Kapat Opening ceremony.”  For 2026, the opening date of Yamunotri has not been announced; it will be announced by the head priest of the Char Dham temples committee. Observation of traditional rituals shows that the temple is open on the auspicious occasion of “Akshay Tritya,” which falls on 19 April, so the Kapat of Yamunotri Dham will open on 19 April 2026, Sunday. 

 Ceremony/Rituals during the temple's opening: The opening ceremony of the Yamunotri temple, which is also known as the "Kapat Opening Ceremony."

The ceremony is led by the Char Dham temple committee in Kharisal village, which is one of the winter seats of Char Dham temples. It includes a grand puja. The idol of the Goddess Yamuna is brought from the Kharsali temple (winter abode of Yamunotri) to the main temple in a decorated palanquin (Palki). The Pujaris conduct the Vedic rituals during the opening, like the Abhishek of the goddess Yamuna’s idol. It marks the official opening of the Char Dham yatra.

The closing date is announced on the occasion of Dussera. Traditionally,  the closing date is fixed on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj (the second day after Diwali). It is considered a good time, as the God Yama visits his sister Yamuna. In 2026, the tentative closing date is here. 

Rituals & Ceremony during the Temple's closing: Yamunotri temple Kapat closing is a religious ceremony which officially marks the end of the yatra season. The Kapat closing ceremony of the Yamunotri temple involves a last puja. The evening Aarti and closing prayers are performed during the closing. After that, the idol of Goddess Yamuna is shifted to its winter residence in Kharsali village, and the kapat of the temple is closed till next Akshay Tritya. 

 Note: These dates are tentative; wait for the official announcements in 2026.

Comparison between the opening & closing dates of 2025 and 2026

How to reach Yamunotri

Yamunotri is accessible by air, train, and road. The final stretch to the temple involves a 6 km trek from Janki Chatti. Here is the complete guide on how to reach Yamunotri in detail.

Step 1: Travel to Janki Chatti. 

By road: Janki Chatti is the nearest roadhead to the Yamunotri temple, which is connected with all the main cities of Uttarakhand, like Haridwar and Rishikesh. Taxis and Buses are easily available for Uttarkashi or Janki Chatti (base camp for Yamunotri).  

By Train: Haridwar and Rishikesh are the nearest railway stations to the Yamunotri temple. Take a train from your city to any of these stations. After that, hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Uttarkashi or Janki Chatti. 

By Air: The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Yamunotri. From the airport, hire a cab or taxi to reach Janki Chatti. 

Step 2: Trek to Yamunotri temple: 

The final stretch is a 6 km trek from Janki Chatti to the Yamunotri temple. The trek is considered moderate, and it passes through Hanuman Chatti and Phool Chatti, offering views of the Himalayan peaks. 

You can reach the temple by trekking on foot, or you can hire a pony and palki to avoid trekking.

Yamunotri Weather & Temperature 

Summer Season (May-June): experiences cool and comfortable weather with mild temperature ranges and clear views, making it an ideal time to visit. 

• Temperature: 10°C to 20°C 

• Conditions: clear skies, warm and crisp air, but chilly nights, and experiencing peak crowds, as the char dham yatra starts at this time. 

Monsoon season (July-August): marked by heavy rain, and it experiences high humidity.

• Temperature: 10 c to 18°C

• Conditions: Heavy rain leads to landslides and road blockage, making travel risky. Cloudy weather also provides poor visibility of the peaks. 

Autumn Season (Sep - Oct): the most pleasant time of the year, the weather becomes cool and pleasant after the wet monsoon, and the surrounding scenery is also vibrant at this time. 

• Temperature: 5°C to 15°C 

• Conditions: clear skies, cool weather, but high humidity. Excellent visibility makes travel risky. 

Winter Season (Nov-April): Yamunotri experiences extremely harsh and cold weather during the winter. The entire region is covered with heavy snow, including the temple.  

• Temperature: 3°C to 10°C, sometimes dropping to sub-zero. 

• Conditions: cold and harsh, foggy and dry, experiencing heavy snowfall, the temple is closed at this time.

Places to visit around Yamunotri:

• Surya Kund: A sacred natural hot spring near the temple, where pilgrims took holy baths before visiting Yamunotri.

• Divya Shilla: a sacred rock near the temple, believed to grant blessings to pilgrims.

• Janki Chatti and Pool Chatti: scenic villages and resting points of the Yamunotri temple trek. Provides panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks. 

• Kharsali Village: A picturesque village that serves as a winter residence of the Yamunotri temple.  

• Barkot: a hillside, which serves as the gateway for Yamunotri travellers and is surrounded by the capped peaks. 

• Saptrishi Kund: a divine lake, located 10 km away from the Yamunotri temple and holding deep spiritual significance; it is believed that a group of seven sages meditated around this sacred lake. 

• Dodi Tal, a popular trekking site in this region, provides opportunities for nature walks and camping.

Accommodations & food options in the Yamunotri temple

Stay option: Accommodations are available in the base camps of Yamunotri, like in Jankin Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, and Barkot, not in the main temple. You can stay around these camps, from budget-friendly hotels in Janki Chatti to luxury resorts in Barkot. GMVN tourist rest houses and Dharamshala also provide clean rooms at affordable prices. You can book hotels through websites, like Hotel Bookings and Goibibo, or find them locally. 

Food options: Yamunotri offers numerous food options, including dhabas, canteens, and restaurants. The place serves simple, fresh vegetarian meals, as Yamunotri is a holy site, not a picnic spot. There are also some local food stalls and tea stalls along the Yamunotri temple route, like in Janki chatti, Hanuman Chatti, and pool chatti. 

Yamunotri temple's significance in the Char Dham Yatra

Yamunotri is a significant site;  it is the first stop of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, marked as the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra in the remote region of Uttarakhand and the origin source of the Yamuna river (symbol of purity and source of life). 

The natural hot springs, like Surya kund near the temple, and stunning Himalayan scenery represent the beginning of spiritual awakening, as the char dham yatra starts from Yamunotri and then proceeds to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. For a hassle-free travel and trekking experience, you can book your Char Dham yatra package with Manchala Mushafir. As we are one of the best companies for char dham yatra in India, with vast experience of 8 years serving more than 85k+ customers with a 98% success rate.

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FAQs about the Yamunotri temple

Conclusion 

Although the exact date of Yamunotri temple opening and closing has not been announced yet, you can certainly plan as per the date shared on this blog, as it is given as per the previous dates, panchang, local festivals and other parameters. But if you want the exact date of opening and closing of the Yamunotri temple 2026, then you should wait till it is officially announced. Once it gets announced, we will update the date on this portal.