Uttarakhand in May — weather, temple openings, and travel tips

May is when Uttarakhand's high-altitude season begins. The four Char Dham temples open their doors after winter, BRO clears the mountain highways, and the pilgrimage corridor from Rishikesh to Badrinath comes alive. If you are planning a summer trip to the Garhwal Himalayas, May is the first viable month.

The opening dates for 2026 have been officially announced:

Yamunotri: 19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)

Gangotri: 19 April 2026 (Akshaya Tritiya)

Kedarnath: 22 April 2026

Badrinath: 23 April 2026

Closing dates (tentative): Gangotri 10 November, Yamunotri 11 November, Kedarnath 11 November, Badrinath 13 November. These dates are set by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee based on the Hindu lunar calendar.

In 2025, the openings were later: Yamunotri and Gangotri on 30 April, Kedarnath 2 May, Badrinath 4 May. The 2026 dates are notably earlier, meaning May travellers in 2026 will arrive to temples that have already been open for one to two weeks.

The first two weeks after opening are often the most atmospheric. Snow still covers the surrounding peaks, the roads are freshly cleared, and the pilgrims who arrive in this window tend to be the most committed.

Rishikesh and Haridwar (350-400 m): Hot. Daytime highs of 35-40 degrees C. Not pleasant for extended sightseeing, but fine as a transit stop.

Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Srinagar (500-900 m): Warm days of 28-34 degrees C, comfortable evenings around 18-22 degrees C.

Chamoli, Ukhimath, Gopeshwar (1,200-1,800 m): Pleasant. Daytime 20-28 degrees C, nights 10-15 degrees C. A light jacket suffices for evenings.

Joshimath (1,890 m): 15-22 degrees C during the day, 5-10 degrees C at night. Pack a fleece for evenings.

Badrinath (3,133 m): Cold. Daytime 5-12 degrees C, nights can drop to minus 2 degrees C in early May. Warm layers, thermal innerwear, and a down jacket are essential. Snow cover may remain on surrounding slopes in the first week of May.

Kedarnath (3,583 m): Colder still. Daytime 3-8 degrees C, nights minus 5 to 0 degrees C. Snow on the ground is common in early May. Helicopter operations are weather-dependent and delays are frequent.

Mussoorie (2,005 m) and Nainital (1,938 m): 14-26 degrees C. Comfortable hill-station weather. Light layers for evenings.

The first two weeks of May (especially in 2026, when temples opened in late April) are relatively calm. By mid-May, when school summer holidays begin across north India, pilgrim volumes increase sharply.

Badrinath can receive 8,000-15,000 pilgrims per day by late May. Kedarnath is even busier: 15,000-25,000 daily in the last two weeks of May and into June. Helicopter booking queues at Phata, Sitapur, and Sersi helipads can stretch to 3-5 days without advance booking.

Strategy: If you want the Char Dham without the crush, aim for the first 10-12 days of May. For Kedarnath helicopters in the second half of May, book 4-6 weeks ahead.

The main Rishikesh-Badrinath highway (NH-7) is fully open from late April. Occasional rockfalls between Chamoli and Joshimath can cause delays of one to three hours. This is normal and clears within the day.

The Kedarnath helicopter helipads operate from the Kedarnath opening date. Road access to Sonprayag (the parking point for Kedarnath trekkers) is open; beyond Sonprayag, the route is pedestrian and horse traffic only.

The Badrinath-Mana road opens with the temple. Chopta-Tungnath road typically opens in late April or early May, depending on snowmelt.

Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib: Closed in May. The Valley of Flowers National Park opens 1 July every year. The Govindghat-Ghangaria trail may be partially accessible for Hemkund Sahib pilgrims later in May, but the valley itself remains snow-covered and inaccessible.

Book early. Accommodation in Joshimath and Badrinath fills up quickly for the second half of May. Book at least three weeks ahead.

Layer your clothing. You will move through multiple climate zones in a single day. T-shirts for the plains, fleece for Joshimath, full winter gear for Badrinath and Kedarnath.

Watch for afternoon weather. Pre-monsoon thunderstorms can occur at altitude in late May. Start your day early and aim to be at or below temple level by 3 PM.

Carry sunscreen. UV exposure at 3,000+ m is intense even on cool days.

Register for Char Dham Yatra. Mandatory biometric registration is required for all pilgrims. Register online before departure at the official Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra portal.

When exactly does Badrinath temple open in 2026?

Is May too crowded for a comfortable Badrinath visit?

Can I trek to Valley of Flowers in May?

What should I pack for a May trip to Badrinath?

Is Kedarnath helicopter booking necessary in May?

Related guides: Winter in Uttarakhand | Joshimath to Badrinath | Where to stay in Badrinath