Non-Hindus barred from entering Badrinath, Kedarnath temples from this year

Entry of non-Hindus to the revered Himalayan shrines of Badrinath Temple and Kedarnath Temple will no longer be allowed starting this year, according to an announcement made by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Wednesday.

The decision was finalised during a committee board meeting held on Tuesday and chaired by the committee’s president, Hemant Dwivedi. Officials said the proposal received unanimous approval from the board members.

Under the new rule, non-Hindus will not be permitted to enter the temple premises or the inner sanctum once the upcoming pilgrimage season begins next month.

Dwivedi explained that the restriction reflects long-standing religious traditions associated with the temples. He said that similar practices have existed since the era of Adi Shankaracharya, who established these sacred sites as important centres of Vedic worship.

“These shrines are not tourist destinations but sacred places of devotion,” Dwivedi said. “They are deeply rooted in the Vedic tradition, and the Constitution allows religious institutions to manage their own affairs.” He cited Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which grants religious groups the right to administer their religious matters.

The pilgrimage season is set to begin soon. The gates of Badrinath Temple will open on April 23, while those of Kedarnath Temple will open a day earlier on April 22.

Meanwhile, the annual Char Dham Yatra will officially begin on April 19, coinciding with the festival of Akshaya Tritiya, when the doors of the sacred shrines Gangotri Temple and Yamunotri Temple are traditionally opened to pilgrims.

(with inputs from agencies)