Hemkund Sahib

Hemkund-Sahib is a place of religious importance for both Hindus and Sikhs in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The region is a geographical area with a glacial lake that is surrounded by seven mountain peaks with Nishan Sahib on each peak. Located in the Himalayas at an elevation of 15,200 ft approximately, Hemkund Sahib can be reached through Gobindghat, which lies on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway.

Hemkund is basically a name derived from Sanskrit language. Hem means Snow and Kund means Bowl. As per the historical records of Dasam Granth, this is the same place where Pandu Raja practised yoga. The Gurudwara situated on the banks of River Hemkund is said to be the same place where the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, that is Guru Gobind Singh, meditated.

Hemkund has been mentioned even in the epic of Ramayana, as it is believed that the younger brother of Rama, that is Laxmana, after his battle with Meghnad, regained his health by meditating on the banks of Hemkund River. At the same place there is also a Laxmana temple dedicated to the brother of Lord Ram.

The crystal clear water available here in the form of a lake is fed by the glaciers from Sapt Rishi and Hathi Parvat to form a small stream out of this lake by the name of Himganga. On the banks of the same Lake, a small temple of Lakshmana was built because according to historical beliefs, Lakshmana, who was the brother of Ram, meditated on the banks of this lake to regain his health after the battle with Meghnath.

The climatic conditions of the destination stay cool throughout the year with summers ranging from the months of June to October with a maximum temperature of 17⁰ Celsius. Winters here leave most of the areas snow laden from the months of November to May with a minimum temperature of 7⁰ Celsius.

The best tome to visit Hemkund-Sahib will be during the summers that are in between the months of June to October as the climate during this time is perfect for pilgrimage. Travel here during the months of December to May are best avoided because the areas are mostly snow covered.

Travel options are limited in Hemkund-Sahib as it is a pilgrimage centre, which is why people here prefer to walk. However, some people also use ponies. Short distance modes of transport in the form of tongas are also available to travel around the place. These travel options are prohibited beyond a particular limit, as some areas are suited only for walking.