The Gangotri Temple of Uttarakhand is one of the integral parts of Chardhams (Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath) in India. It is located in the lush green hills of the Garhwal Himalayas. Here you will see the sacred Gaumukh Glacier, which is the source point of the sacred river Ganga (located 19 km away from the Gangotri Temple). It is also one of the holiest rivers of India. Devotees from all over India visit Gangotri Temple to worship goddess Ganga and take her divine blessings. The temple’s sparkling white exteriors and humble Hindu architectural style are enough to overwhelm your senses with peace. Gangotri’s Himalayan peaks, the serene Bhagirathi River, and picturesque landscapes evoke bliss and connect you to the divine through natural views.
Best Time to Plan Gangotri Darshan in 2026
May to June and September and early November are the best times to plan a Gangotri pilgrimage tour. These are the best months to get Goddess Ganga’s divine Darshan. The temple closes for six months in winter due to heavy snowfall and harsh weather. The sacred portals of Gangotri Temple open on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, which typically falls in the month of April or May. It closes during the Bhai Dooj festival.
Tentative Gangotri Temple Opening and Closing Date 2026
| Temple | Opening Date | Closing Date |
| Gangotri Dham | 19th April 2026 | 11th Nov 2026 |
- The temple opens its doors for devotees to visit and offer Darshan on the holy eve of Akshaya Tritiya. The temple continues to remain open for 6 months.
- The temple will shut its doors to the general public and devotees for the season during the holy festival of Bhai Dooj. As the weather changes from pleasantly welcoming to harsh winters, the temple shuts its doors, preventing devotees from visiting due to heavy snowfall.
Gangotri Temple Aarti Timings 2026
| Gangotri Dham Aarti | Timings |
| Mangala Timings | 6:00 am |
| Sandhya Timings | 7:45 pm |
Gangotri Temple Winter Seat
During the winter months, the temple of Gangotri closes, making the path inaccessible for devotees of Darshan. To keep the tradition of worshipping Goddess Ganga, the idol is ceremoniously shifted to Dharali, Mukhba Village, which is in the Uttarkashi district. Just like the people who make their way to the lower reaches of the valley to survive the winter season, the idol of the goddess is also brought down so that people can visit and offer their prayers to her without stopping.
Gangotri Temple Opening and Closing Ceremony 2026
Rooted in tradition and devotion, the portals of Gangotri Temple are marked by significant rituals to honor Goddess Ganga. If you see the opening or closing rituals in Gangotri, it’s very lucky.
Opening Rituals of Gangotri Temple
The temple of Gangotri opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, which falls in the month of April or May. For 2026, the Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated on 19th April, and the portals of Gangotri Temple will open for the devotees.
- The opening ceremony begins with a sacred Snan (bath) of the idol of Goddess Ganga, first in the Bhagirathi river and then inside the temple.
- The sacred Abhishek Pooja is performed by offering milk, honey, and curd to the deity. After the Abhishekam, the flag bearing the image of Ganga will be hoisted on the temple, which symbolizes the beginning of the pilgrimage season.
- After the flag hosting ceremony, Ganga Aarti is performed, which elevates devotees’ spiritual thoughts.
Closing Rituals of Gangotri Temple
- The temple of Gangotri closes on the auspicious occasion of Bhai-Dooj, which falls a day or two after Diwali, the festival of lights. For 2026, the festival of Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on 11th November 2026, and the portals of Gangotri Dham will be closed.
- On the closing day, lines of oil lamps were lit inside the temple, and prayers and grand Puja were performed to honor Goddess Ganga by priests.
- In the evening, Ganga Aarti is performed which symbolizes the end of the pilgrimage season.
- After the closing ceremony, the idol of goddess Ganga is shifted from Gangotri to Mukhba Village, where the worship continues for the entire winter.
FAQs
Q-1: How Far Is Gangotri from Yamunotri?
Ans: The distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri is 227 km. The travel time between these places is 7 hours or more, depending on the traffic.
Q-2: Can I Go to Gangotri Temple in December?
Ans: No. The temple remains closed for the entirety of the winter season. It has been shut down for 6 months.
Q-3: How Can I Go to Gangotri by Flight?
Ans: The temple is reachable by a helicopter that starts from the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. The helicopter then transfers the passengers to the nearest helipad of Gangotri in Harsil. From here, a car will transfer the passenger from the helipad to the temple, which is just about 27 km away from the temple and takes almost an hour.
Knowing about the opening and closing dates for Gangotri is very important for planning a successful trip to Gangotri Dham.
Q-4: What is the opening date of Gangotri Dham in 2026?
Ans: The temple of Gangotri will open on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, which will be celebrated on April 19th, 2026.
Q-5: What is the closing date of Gangotri Dham in 2026?
Gangotri Dham will be closed on the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj, which is celebrated on a day or two after Diwali.
Q-6: Where is the idol of Ganga shifted from Gangotri in winter?
Ans: To continue the worship of goddess Ganga in winters, the idol of Gangotri is ceremoniously shifted to Dharali, Mukhba Village which is in Uttarkashi district near Harsil.
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