It is believed that here Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had worshiped Mahakal for many years. This is the reason that the Sikh community has great reverence for this pilgrimage and they reach here despite all the difficulties and every year there is a huge influx of devotees.
Hemkund Sahib
Whenever it comes to beauty on earth, Kashmir is the first name that comes, but there are some places in India that are no less than any paradise and this paradise is not Kashmir but some other place.
We are talking about Shri Hemkund Sahib, a symbol of the unwavering faith of Sikhs. Sri Hemkund Sahib situated in Chamoli, Uttarakhand is built at an altitude of 15200 feet. Shri Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara remains covered with snow for 6 months.
Shri Hemkund Sahib is known for its beauty and it is one of the most important Gurudwaras in the country. There is a lake near the Gurudwara itself. This holy place is called Amrit Sarovar i.e. the pond of nectar.
This lake is about 400 yards long and 200 yards wide. It is surrounded on all sides by the seven peaks of the Himalayas. The color of these peaks automatically changes according to the atmospheric conditions.
Sometimes they are snow white, sometimes golden, sometimes red, and sometimes grayish blue.
Hemkund Sahib is the holy shrine of Sikhs. It is in the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Situated in the lap of the Himalayas, Hemkund Sahib is a symbol of the faith of Sikhism.
In fact, lakhs of devotees from all over the country and abroad come here every year for darshan. Hemkund Sahib, nestled between rocky mountains and snow-capped peaks on all sides, is at an altitude of 4329 meters above sea level. The trekking to Hemkund Sahib is very difficult.
To reach Hemkund Sahib, devotees have to pass through a snowy road. Snow stays here for 7-8 months in a year and the weather remains very cold. Let us take you on a tour of this holy religious place and tell you how and when to go here?
Hemkund is a Sanskrit word. It means ice pool. There is a famous Gurudwara of Sikhs on the banks of the lake in Hemkund. There is a Laxman temple near the Gurudwara.
The atmosphere here is very calm due to being surrounded by high peaks of snow. Every year Sikh devotees come from not only India but also from abroad to bow their heads in this gurudwara, which is situated in the lap of nature.
How to reach Hemkund Sahib
Devotees can reach Hemkund Sahib by road and air.
By Air- Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest airport. Jolly Grant's distance from Govindghat is 292 km. From here one can reach Govindghat by taxi or bus. From Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, a trek of 19 km is required.
By Rail - The nearest railway station to Hemkund Sahib is Rishikesh, which is 273 km from Govindghat. One can reach Govindghat from Rishikesh via taxi or bus via Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Joshimath.
If you are going by road then you have to go by Rishikesh – Badrinath road.
To reach here, devotees will have to get down at Govind Ghat, two kilometers before Pandukeshwar.
Trek Hemkund Sahib
The journey to Hemkund Sahib starts from Govindghat which is situated on the banks of the Alaknanda River at an altitude of 1 thousand 828 meters above sea level.
There are good roads till Govindghat and even vehicles go comfortably but there is a trek of 13 km from Govindghat to Ghangaria on top of it, which is a very steep climb. The journey of 6 kilometers ahead of it is full of more difficulties.
Govindghat is reached by crossing the Alaknanda river through a swinging bridge. After this, the crooked path becomes straight, which goes through the valley going down, which also has fields and many trees and plants.
After 3 km, Lakshman Ganga meets which later joins Alaknanda. Next comes a small village, Pulna. After this, the trek becomes even more exciting as you start seeing rocky mountains and snow-capped mountain peaks on the way.
Hemkund Sahib Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers” is the name of the Himalayan area in Uttarakhand state in India. In 1931 the English mountaineer Frank Smythe stumbled across the Bhyundar Valley, an 8 km long glacier corridor in Chamoli -one of the district of Uttarakhand state.
This area, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and carpeted with over 500 species of flowers, soon became a protected site.
Nature had designed this valley (3,658 m. to 3962 m) for the dedicated outdoors person. Nearly 10 km long and almost 2 kms wide, the valley is ringed with snow-capped mountains and watered by streams rising in the mountains.
It is accessible from late April, but grandest from late July to the end of August. Literally hundreds of wild flowers bloom in this valley including the rare Himalayan Blue Poppy . A naturalist’s delight,the valley is reputed to be the largest repository of the wild flowers in the natural surroundings in the world over 300 species have been identified.
Flowers mostly orchids, poppies, primulas, calendulas, daisies and anemones carpet the ground. Alpine forests of birch and rhododendron cover a part of the area, and are home to tahr, snow leopard, musk deer, red fox, common langur, bharal, serow, Himalayan black bear and a huge variety of butterflies.
Although the distance from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib is only 6 km, trekking becomes even more difficult from here and it takes maximum time to cross it.
Located at an altitude of 14,100 ft. above sea level, the Valley of Flowers has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the winter months, this captivating valley stays frozen and on the other hand, as the summers start, it begins to bloom into a youthful prettiness because the snow melts.
The last three kilometers, which is the glacier part, have to be covered only on foot.
Hemkund Sahib Trek Distance
The total Hemkund Sahib trek distance from Govindghat is 20 Km. It is divided into two parts: first Govidnghat to Ghangaria & second Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib.
