Hemkund Sahib
Set amidst seven towering snow-capped peaks, besides a lake of pristine blue water, is a star-shaped Gurudwara known as Hemkund Sahib.
A pilgrimage site for both Sikhs as well as Hindus, Hemkund Sahib is visited by scores of devotees every year.
Due to extreme weather conditions, Hemkund Sahib is inaccessible between October and April and is so appropriately named ‘Hemkund’ which in Sanskrit means ‘a bowl of snow’.
Hemkund Sahib is home to a beautiful star-shaped Sikh Gurudwara dedicated to the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. As mentioned in the holy book of Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh had meditated on the banks of the lake here, in his previous birth.
After a thorough study of Guru Granth Sahib and deep research by a few Sikhs, the site was discovered and Gurudwara Sahib was constructed in 1936-37.
Hemkund Sahib also holds significance for Hindu devotees as Lord Rama’s brother Lakshman is believed to have meditated and regained his health here after having been injured by Ravana’s brother, Meghnad. Close to the Gurudwara on the banks of the lake is a temple dedicated to Lakshman popularly known as Lakshman Temple.
Opening Date of Sri Hemkund Sahib
The shrine of Hemkund Sahib will open for devotees on 25 May 2016 and close on 10 October 2016.
Route to Hemkund Sahib
Delhi-Meerut-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Rudraprayag-Karnaprayag-Nandaprayag-Joshimath-Gobindghat-Ghangharia-Hemkund sahib
Hemkund Fast Facts
Hemkund Altitude: 15,200 ft above sea level
Best Time to Visit Hemkund: May to Sep
Distance to Hemkund from Delhi: 510 km
Distance to Hemkund from Haridwar: 305 km
Distance to Hemkund from Rishikesh: 285 km
Distance to Hemkund from Gobindghat: 16.8 km
Distance to Hemkund from Ghangharia: 5.2 km
Around Hemkund Sahib
Valley of Flowers
Around 1.5 km from Ghangharia is a 5 km long valley of flowers. Declared a National Park by the Govt. of India, in 1982, Valley of flowers is now a World Heritage Site and has around 300 species of beautiful and colourful wild flowers blooming naturally.
Located in Bhyundar valley, it is an easy trek to the valley of flowers.
Best Time to Visit Valley of Flowers: During spring.
Timings: 06:00 AM to 06:00 P.M (Last entry to the park is at 03:00 PM)
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