Winter Char Dham Yatra: Ukhimath, Pandukeshwar, Mukhba and Kharsali, and Where to Stay
When the four shrines close in November, the deities come down to winter seats you can reach by road. Where each one goes, how to plan the winter yatra, and where to stay near each seat.
The Char Dham shrines close for the winter every November, but the worship does not stop. When the doors of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shut, each deity is carried down in a doli procession to a winter seat in a village lower in the valley, and daily puja continues there until the shrines reopen in spring. All four winter seats are reachable by road, and the Uttarakhand government has been promoting a winter Char Dham circuit — the Sheetkal Yatra — so that pilgrims can come in the off-season too.
The temples close around Diwali and Bhai Dooj, Gangotri first and Badrinath last. The exact dates are announced each year at Vijayadashami; this season they are expected around 10 to 13 November. Once the dolis have reached their winter seats, the winter yatra begins.
The four winter seats
| Shrine | Winter seat | Where it is | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kedarnath | Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath | Rudraprayag district, across the Mandakini from Guptkashi | Guptkashi and Sersi |
| Badrinath | Yogdhyan Badri, Pandukeshwar, and the Narsingh Temple, Joshimath | Chamoli district, on the Badrinath road | Joshimath |
| Gangotri | Mukhba (Mukhimath) | Uttarkashi district, just across the Bhagirathi from Harsil | Harsil |
| Yamunotri | Kharsali (Khushimath) | Uttarkashi district, near Janki Chatti | Barkot |
Kedarnath in winter: Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath
Kedarnath's winter seat is the Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath, a short drive across the valley from Guptkashi. It is the busiest of the four winter seats, and much easier to reach than Kedarnath itself: there is no trek, and the road stays open through the winter. Ukhimath is also the starting point for Chopta and the walk to Tungnath, which makes a winter trip here more than a single darshan.
Stay in Guptkashi or at Sersi near Ukhimath. Shree Kaidar Villa is at Sersi, close to Ukhimath, and Shri Tritham Residency is in the Guptkashi–Phata area.
Badrinath in winter: Pandukeshwar and Joshimath
When Badrinath closes, the idols of Uddhav and Kuber are taken to the Yogdhyan Badri temple at Pandukeshwar, on the Badrinath road below Govindghat, and the gaddi of Adi Shankaracharya goes to the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath. A winter darshan of Badrinath means visiting one or both.
Joshimath is the base for both, and in winter it has another draw: Auli, directly above the town, has its snow season. Hotel Dhanesh and Hotel Divine Residency are both in Joshimath. See also our guide to Auli from Joshimath.
Gangotri in winter: Mukhba
Goddess Ganga spends the winter at Mukhba, a village on the slope across the Bhagirathi from Harsil, at the Mukhimath temple. The doli comes down from Gangotri the day after the shrine closes. Harsil and Mukhba are high, and snow is common from December, so check the road before you set out and travel in daylight.
Harsil Village Resort in Harsil is the nearest stay we list; it has room heating, which matters here in winter. Lower down, Uttarkashi has more choice — see hotels in Uttarkashi.
Yamunotri in winter: Kharsali
Goddess Yamuna's winter seat is Kharsali, a village close to Janki Chatti, where the Yamunotri trek begins in summer. In winter there is no trek: Kharsali is reached by road through the Yamuna valley. It is the quietest of the four seats.
Stay in Barkot, the town at the foot of the valley: Amandeep Galaxy and Hotel Aashiyana are both there.
Planning a winter Char Dham yatra
- No queues, no crowds. The winter seats see a fraction of the summer pilgrims, and rooms are easy to find and cheaper than in the season.
- Cold, and sometimes snow. Days are clear and cold; nights are freezing at Harsil, Mukhba and Kharsali. Pack for snow and choose rooms with heating.
- Roads stay open, but drive in daylight. Snow and ice can close the higher stretches for a day or two after a storm. Leave spare time, and ask the hotel about the road the evening before.
- Check that your hotel is open. Some properties on the yatra route close or run reduced service in winter. Confirm before you travel.
- Registration. Summer yatris must register on the Uttarakhand tourism portal; check the portal for what applies to the winter yatra this season.
Doing all four in winter takes about a week, starting from Dehradun or Rishikesh: Kharsali via Barkot, then Mukhba via Uttarkashi and Harsil, then Ukhimath via Guptkashi, and Pandukeshwar and Joshimath last. Many pilgrims do just one or two — Ukhimath and Joshimath are the easiest to combine.
Where to stay on this route
- Shri Tritham ResidencyGuptkashifrom ₹4,000
- Shree Kaidar Villa Barasu GuptkashiGuptkashifrom ₹3,000
- Hotel Divine ResidencyJoshimathfrom ₹3,999
- Hotel Dhanesh, JoshimathJoshimathfrom ₹3,000
Before you go
- The four shrines close around Diwali and Bhai Dooj; exact dates are announced each year at Vijayadashami.
- All four winter seats — Ukhimath, Pandukeshwar and Joshimath, Mukhba and Kharsali — are reached by road.
- Nights are freezing at Harsil, Mukhba and Kharsali; choose rooms with heating and drive in daylight.
- Confirm that your hotel is open in winter before you travel; some yatra-route properties close.
Good to know
- Kedarnath is worshipped in winter at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.
- Badrinath's winter worship is shared between the Yogdhyan Badri temple at Pandukeshwar and the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath.
- Goddess Ganga winters at Mukhba, across the Bhagirathi from Harsil.
- Goddess Yamuna winters at Kharsali, near Janki Chatti.
Frequently asked questions
What is the winter Char Dham yatra?
When Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri close in November, each deity is carried to a winter seat lower in the valley, where daily worship continues. The winter yatra is a pilgrimage to those four seats: Ukhimath, Pandukeshwar and Joshimath, Mukhba, and Kharsali.
Where is Kedarnath worshipped in winter?
At the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, across the Mandakini valley from Guptkashi. It is reached by road, with no trek.
Where is Badrinath worshipped in winter?
At the Yogdhyan Badri temple in Pandukeshwar, on the Badrinath road, and at the Narsingh Temple in Joshimath. Joshimath is the base for both.
When do the Char Dham temples close this year?
Around Diwali and Bhai Dooj, Gangotri first and Badrinath last. The dates are announced at Vijayadashami; this season they are expected around 10 to 13 November.
Is the winter Char Dham yatra safe?
The roads to all four winter seats stay open, but snow and ice can close the higher stretches after a storm. Travel in daylight, keep spare days, and check road conditions with your hotel the evening before.
About the author
Pulp Hotels Team
The Pulp Hotels Team is the desk that runs Pulp Hotels and the verified properties on this route — Barkot, Uttarkashi, Harsil, Guptkashi, Joshimath, Badrinath and the Kedarnath valley. We deal with the owners of those hotels, and with the pilgrims staying in them, through every day of the season, and these guides are written and corrected from that work and from the official notices each season brings. Fares and opening dates change every year, so we leave them out on purpose and point you at the source instead.
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