Hemkund Sahib

Nestled in the lap of deep Himalayas at height of more than 4600 meters is the famous Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib. The Gurudwara is on the banks of an Amrit kund ( Pool of nectar). The Amrit Kund a pool which remains completely frozen for a larger time of the year. The pool and the Gurudwara is surrounded by seven snow capped mountains. This high altitude Gurudwara is located at a distance of six kilometers from Ghaghariya (also known as Gobind dham). This six kilometers can be scaled only on foot or riding a pony as the road is very narrow and the elevation is steep. Further Ghagariya is around 15 kms from Gobind Ghat a small town on the banks of river Alaknanda.

How to reach Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib: - You can reach Gurrdwara Hemkund Sahib either walking a trek of 6 kms from Ghagariya or riding a pony. Ghagariya further is a trek of 15kms from Gobind Ghat but here you also have a choice of a helicopter ride apart from ponies. Gobind ghat is connected by a good motorable road, you can reach Gobind ghat through Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Dev prayag- Srinagar- Rudra Prayag- Gupteshwar-Joshimath-Govindghat route.

The nearest airport is at Dehradun: - Jolly grant airport which is around 300 kms from the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib.

By Train: - The nearest railways station is at Haridwar, you can easily hire a cab or ride a Public bus to reach Joshimath. Joshimath is 25 kms from the Gobind Ghat.

History of Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib – The Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib has a very peculiar story. This Gurudwara is known to be related with Guru Gobind Singh the tenth master of the Sikh Faith. Guru Gobind Singh ji never visited this area in his life time, he wrote a book “Bichatra Natak” in which he wrote about his earlier birth as “Dushta Daman” he described clearly how he meditated amidst deep Himalayas. Dushta daman the early incarnation of Guru Gobind singh meditated at the amrit Kund surrounded by seven peaks along with the Pandavas (Mahabharat fame).

A British Indian army employee Sardar Modan Singh based on the description of the Bachitar natak set out to discover the place where “Dushta Daman” lived. He found this place 6 kms from Ghagariya very clearly in congruence to the description of the same written by Guru Gobind Singh ji. In the last two decades as television came in vogue people specially Sikhs started coming to the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib.. Now the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib is the most visited Gurudwara in the high Himalayas.

When to visit Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib - The Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib remains open only in the summer months from May to September every year. This year the Gurudwara opened on 22 may 2022. It will finally close in October no one remains in the Gurudwara in the winter months as there is persistent snowfall in the water months even when Gurudwara opens in May there is a tall snow cover at the Gurudwara. The best time to visit Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib is end of June.