Kedarnath Yatra 2025 begins, here's everything you need to know

The portals Kedarnath were opened on Friday, with more than 12,000 pilgrims attending the ceremony. The gates of the temple located at a height of more than 11,000 ft were opened at 7 am.

Of the four Char Dham temples Kedarnath, which is also the 11th Jyotirlinga, pulls the largest crowd of devotees. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

It is the third temple in the Char Dham circuit to be opened after the winter break. Gangotri and Yamunotri temples were opened on April 30 and Badrinath will open on May 4.

Pilgrims in Kedarnath this time would be the "aarti" on the lines of Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh to be performed at the confluence of Mandakini and Saraswati rivers.

Heightened security measures, including police patrols and drone surveillance, ensure safety for pilgrims traveling to Kedarnath until its closure on November 10.

For easy access, the Uttarakhand government has established both online and offline registration procedures for pilgrims to provide a seamless and well-organized experience.

The temple, which is visited every year by lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad, remains closed during the winter months.