Pilgrimage centres and hill stations such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Auli, Mussoorie, Chakrata, Dhanaulti, and Uttarkashi were covered in a thick blanket of snow. The change in weather drew tourists to several destinations, particularly Mussoorie, where visitors were seen thronging the Mall Road
A view of the snow-covered Kedarnath Temple amid snowfall, in Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Friday. Pic/PTI
High-altitude regions of Uttarakhand received the season’s first snowfall on Friday, ending a prolonged dry spell and intensifying the cold wave across the state, while steady rain lashed the plains, including the state capital Dehradun.
VIDEO | Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand: Kedarnath Dham receives heavy snowfall.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 23, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/gSF7qaf1mW
Pilgrimage centres and hill stations such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Auli, Mussoorie, Chakrata, Dhanaulti, and Uttarkashi were covered in a thick blanket of snow. The change in weather drew tourists to several destinations, particularly Mussoorie, where visitors were seen thronging the Mall Road and sharing snowfall videos on social media.
#WATCH | Uttrakhand | Heavy snowfall has been occurring at Shri Kedarnath Dham since this morning. Due to the snowfall, the cold has intensified in the shrine area and the surrounding regions.
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2026
(Source: Temple committee) pic.twitter.com/0NERyM5V3Z
Apple growers and horticulturists across the hill districts also welcomed the precipitation, which is crucial for winter crops.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand, warning of fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall on January 22 and 23 due to an intense western disturbance affecting the western Himalayan region. The IMD has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, reaching up to 60 kmph, on January 23, along with isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall in higher reaches and hailstorm activity at some places.
Meanwhile, cold conditions have intensified in and around the Kedarnath Dham shrine area following heavy snowfall, the temple committee said. The portals of the world-famous eleventh Jyotirlinga were ceremoniously closed for the winter season on October 23, 2025, coinciding with Bhai Dooj.
Following the closing rituals, the swayambhu Shivling of Lord Kedarnath was adorned with locally sacred flowers such as Kumja, Bukla, Rakh and Brahmakamal, along with dried flowers and leaves, symbolically giving it a samadhi form. The sanctum doors were then closed amid chants of “Jai Baba Kedar”.
Devotional ceremonies mark Kedarnath closure; Badrinath remains shut for winter
Before the closure, the temple was decorated with flowers, devotional music was played by the Indian Army band, and chants echoed across the complex. Despite the biting cold, around 10,000 devotees gathered to witness the ceremony.
Separately, the portals of Badrinath Dham were closed for the winter season on November 25, 2025. Badrinath is among the holiest shrines for Vaishnavites, forming part of the 108 Divya Desams, and is also one of the Panch Badri temples, along with Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri.
Standing about 50 feet tall, the Badrinath temple features a small cupola crowned with a gold-gilt roof. The shrine complex comprises the Garbha Griha, Darshan Mandap and Sabha Mandap, with idols of Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber, Narad Rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan, among others. Opposite the main deity, the seated idol of Garud, the vehicle of Lord Badarinath, is installed in a prayer posture.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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