BKTC Announces Ban on Entry of Non-Hindus Into Badrinath, Kedarnath Temples

Dehradun: Only Hindus will soon be permitted to enter the centuries-old Badrinath and Kedarnath temples in Uttarakhand, following an announcement by the temple body managing the shrines.

The restriction will apply to all temples administered by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), including the Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams, which are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Confirming the decision, BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi said that entry of non-Hindus will be prohibited in all temples under the committee’s jurisdiction.

Dwivedi added that a proposal formalising the decision will be placed before the temple committee board and is expected to be passed at its upcoming meeting.

The Badrinath temple is scheduled to reopen on April 23 after a six-month winter closure. The reopening date for the Kedarnath temple will be announced on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

The Chota Char Dham circuit also includes the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples, whose gates are set to reopen on April 19 on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.