Hemkund Sahib: The Sikh Pilgrimage in the Himalayas! Introduction, Significance, Time to Visit and Much More

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In the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, as you trek through the valley of flowers, you will discover the Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji, which is on the bank of a picturesque glacier lake called Hemkund at an altitude is 4329 mts. This is where you find the holiest pilgrimage centre for Sikhs in this famous Gurudwara.

Most of us have heard of Hemkund but can not always can figure out what it is famous for. First of all, what does Hemkund mean? It means Gold Lake. Trek to this place is unusually memorable as the path criss crosses through a colour splashing valley of flowers.

The Steep Trek Upwards: The Hemkund trek which is about 7 km of distance, actually starts at Ghangaria village, where you make your way through the pine and oak jungles, alpine meadows and streams that soothe your eyes. You have trek upwards on a steep path and that takes 7 hours to cover this distance.

The Trek Itinerary: The trek actually starts from Rishikesh or Haridwar. You have to drive for 9 hours to arrive at Govindghat which is 1900 metres above the sea level, on the banks of the Alakananda River. You can halt in Joshimath as well as at GovindGhat.

Now from Govind Ghat, it is just a 13 km trekking distance to Ghangaria village. Here the path forks into two, one leading to Hemkund Sahib and the other directly into Valley of Flowers. This steep trek to Hemkund Sahib finally takes you to Gurudwara. Actually, it is worth trekking all the way because the scenery is just captivating.

Connection With Ramayana:This gurudwara is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru and this is mentioned in their Dasam Granth as well. On the banks of the lake, if you look around a bit, you can also spot a small temple of Lakshman located on the bank of the Hemkund. It is also on record that Guru Gobind Singh had meditated in this area for some time. There is a small stream called Himganga that stems from this lake.

Hemkund is also connected with episodes from Ramayana. Lakshamana had meditated here in order to regain his health and recoup from the war injuries. The earlier name for Hemkund was Lokpal, as it was the area he had meditated. Lok pal means the protector of the world and it befits Lakshman. The Lakshmana temple is erected at the point where he penanced to recovery. Just like Badrinath, this Gurudwara also closes during winter (October to April) and opens every summer when it is time for the Hemkunt Sahib Yatra.

Kar Seva: Sikh pilgrims, firstly arrive here in the wake of May month to just repair the snow damaged roads and then to start the pilgrimage. This for them is equivalent to Kar seva, one of the precepts of the Sikh religion that strictly needs to be followed.

This gurudwara was built by Sant Sohan Singh of Tehri Garhwal. Through relentless efforts he found this area that was suitable for building the Gurudwara. Keeping in mind the climate and the environment, he ordered a specialist to build it. Made of white marbles and concrete, it is in pentagonal shape and it is the only one such Gurudwar in the world.

Like Badrinath devotees take a dip in the Tapt Kund before entering the temple, even here, the Gurubhakts immerse themselves in Hemkund and then visit the gurudwara. Hemkund is surrounded by seven peaks known as Hathi Parvat and the Saptarshi lakes, that replenish the Kund.

Festivals Conducted Here: Two festivals are celebrated here, the Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti and Maghi. On the Guru Gobind Jayanti day which is his birthday, procession will be held at the Gurudwara. People do sankirtans and exchange sweets and sherbets amongst participating kids and adults. Celebrating a regular festival at such an altitude speaks for their faith in their religion and the kind of strength they display in bearing the freezing cold speaks volumes for their dedication. They follow the rituals in a detailed manner.

Maghi is the day when the forty immortal Martyrs are honoured for their martyrdom. Although these followers had left the Gurus league, later they fought for him against the Mughal army and died after a valiant fight. Guru Gobind Singh blessed them with salvation.

Birth Mystery Of Guru Gobind Singh: It is also believed that it was by God's order that Guru Gobind Singh when he was in deep meditation in this area decided to take another birth. This was about his previous lifetime. As per some authoritative sources, King Pandu, the forerunner of Pandavas, also had meditated here for a brief while.

Some Precautions: As usual, people with health issues should watch out before they embark on the trip and take safety precautions if they like to proceed. Once you reach this area, you will be served khichdi with tea free of cost as there are no hotels up there. Be cautious about the unpredictable weather conditions and hence stock up on your winter wear. On the way to Gangaria village, you have a string of tea stalls, and here is where you are supposed to hire your porters and tourist guides.