Hemkund Sahib Travel Guide

Holy Shrine By The Lake

Hemkund Sahib is a highly revered Sikh place of worship in the world. What makes this religious site even more popular is its location at a dizzying height of 4636 m. Nestled in the lap of Garhwal Himalayas, this sacred Sikh pilgrimage destination is annually visited by a large number of devotees from far and wide before it closes down for the winter season between October and April. From the month of May, Sikh pilgrims start to arrive at Hemkund Sahib to help repair the damaged trail over the winter months first and then for performing pilgrimage. This tradition is called Kar Seva or selfless service, which forms an important concept in the Sikh faith. Hemkund Sahib also houses a scenic lake, in the water of which, the devotees take a dip. As per the Hindu mythology, Hemkunt Sahib was known as Lokpal, which is a lake that was a meditational grounds of Lakshman, the brother of Lord Rama.

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What to see in Hemkund Sahib?

The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara

The present Gurudwara was constructed around 1960s by Major General Harkirat Singh, Engineer-in-Chief, Indian Army. He selected Architect Siali to lead the design and construction of this sacred pilgrimage site, which was built keeping all the environment and climatic conditions in mind. It is the only pentagonal gurudwara in the world.

Hemkund Lake

Situated in close proximity to the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, Hemkund Lake is pristine little waterbody that adds to the beauty of this place. Devotees who visit Hemkund Sahib take a dip in the water of this sacred lake.

Valley of Flowers

The famed Valley of Flowers is situated close to Hemkund Sahib. This beautiful place can be reached from Ghangharia, wherefrom the trails for Hemkund Sahib and VOF diverge. This high altitude national park is known for its rich variety of flora that are in full bloom during the monsoon months.

How to Reach Hemkund Sahib?

By Road :

Route : Delhi - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Devprayag - Srinagar - Rudraprayag - Gopeshwar - Joshimath-Govindghat-Ghangaria-Hemkund Sahib

Route : Delhi - Dehradun - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Devprayag - Srinagar - Rudraprayag - Gopeshwar - Joshimath-Govindghat-Ghangaria-Hemkund Sahib

By Air :

The nearest airport from Hemkund Sahib is Jolly Grant Airport, which is situated in Dehradun, some 310 kms away.

By Rail :

The closest railheads from Hemkund Sahib are at Dehradun and Haridwar. From both the destinations, one can avail buses or cab to reach Hemkund.

By Road :

Private buses are available from both Haridwar and Dehradun for Joshimath. These buses leave early in the morning and take about 9-11 hours to reach Joshimath. From Joshimath, private taxis can take one to Govindghat, where the motorable road ends. One has to then trek up to Hemkund Sahib from here.