Thousand of pilgrims visit Kedarnath temple as portals open after 6 months

The opening of the famed Himalayan shrines marks the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra which attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad every year.
The Char Dham Yatra or journey to four holy sites commences from Yamunotri, then proceeds to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is the backbone Garhwal Himalayas's economy as the livelihood of locals depend on the Yatra.
The doors of Kedarnath are scheduled to be opened on May 9 followed by those of Badrinath a day later on May 10.
The portals of the four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand are closed in October-November every year because of heavy snowfall and are reopened in April-May.