India, Feb. 15 -- The portals of Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district will be opened for devotees on April 22 at 8 am, marking the beginning of this year's Char Dham Yatra season, officials of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced on Sunday.

The date was declared at the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath, following Maha Shivratri celebration.

BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi extended greetings to devotees in India and abroad and said preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season would now be expedited. "The portals of Shri Badrinath Dham will open on April 23, and with the date for Shri Kedarnath Dham now fixed at April 22, BKTC will accelerate its Yatra preparations," he said.

BKTC chief executive officer...