Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib - गुरुद्वारा हेमकुंड साहिब

Hemkund Sahib is a Gurudwara situated at an altitude of 4329 meters. It is situated near the Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This holy pilgrimage site takes its name from the glacial lake Hemkund located near the Gurudwara, which literally means 'ice lake'. This Sikh pilgrimage site is dedicated to the tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666-1708) and is also mentioned in the Dasam Granth, a composition dedicated to the Guru himself.

Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib History and Architecture
Hemkund Sahib is situated at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet above sea level. Its setting is like a glacial lake surrounded by seven mountain peaks, each with a Nishan Sahib adorning its rock. Hemkund is a Sanskrit name derived from Hem (\"snow\") Kund. The Dasham Granth says that in a previous life, Guru Gobind Singh meditated deeply at Hemkund on famine. A small temple of Bhagwan Ram's brother Lakshman is also adorned on the banks of Hemkund Lake.

Hemkund Sahib Darshan Timings
Hemkund is inaccessible from October to April due to icy roads and glaciers. Sikh pilgrims arrive in May and begin work repairing damage to the path over the winter, in what is traditionally called kar seva (\"selfless service\"), a concept that forms an important tenet of the Sikh faith.

How to reach Hemkund Sahib
The flight point for Hemkund Sahib is the town of Govindghat, about 275 kilometers (171 mi) from Rishikesh. The main town near Gobindghat is Joshimath. The 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) route up to Ghangaria village (also known as Govindham) is a reasonably well-maintained route. This route can be covered on foot or by pony and a Gurudwara here provides shelter to pilgrims. In addition, there are also a few hotels and a campground with tents and mattresses. A 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) stone-paved path climbs 1,100 meters (3,600 ft) to Hemkund. Overnight stay is not allowed in Hemkund Sahib, hence it is necessary to leave by 2 pm to return to Govindghat by evening.