Hemkund Sahib is a Sikh gurudwara beside a glacial lake at about 4,329 metres, in a bowl of rock ringed by seven peaks. Sikh tradition identifies the lake with the place described in the Dasam Granth where Guru Gobind Singh meditated in a previous life; the site was located in the twentieth century and the present star-shaped gurudwara was built on its shore. Tens of thousands of pilgrims climb to it each summer.
For Hindus the same lake is Lokpal, and a small temple on its bank is dedicated to Lakshman, who is said to have done penance here. Trekkers of every faith make the climb for the setting itself — and, in July and August, for the Brahma Kamal and blue poppies that grow beside the upper trail, higher than the Valley of Flowers.
What to see and do at Hemkund Sahib
Make the climb from Ghangaria
The trail is about six kilometres each way and gains well over a thousand metres, so it is relentlessly uphill: a stone-paved mule track in long zigzags, with tea stalls at intervals. Most people take four to five hours up and two to three down. Near the top a long flight of steps offers a steeper short cut; the mule path is longer but kinder.
Visit the gurudwara
Cover your head, remove your shoes and step inside the hall to sit for a while; all are welcome regardless of faith. Many pilgrims take a ritual dip in the lake, which is bitterly cold even in August. The volunteers of the langar serve hot tea and khichdi to everyone who arrives — a small miracle at this altitude.
See the Lakshman temple
A few steps from the gurudwara stands the little Lokpal Lakshman temple, far older in tradition than the Sikh shrine. Local Bhotia and Garhwali villagers have long made their own pilgrimage to the lake.
Look for Brahma Kamal
The state flower of Uttarakhand, a pale, papery relative of the daisy that grows only at high altitude, blooms on the rocky slopes of the last kilometre or two in July and August. Admire it where it grows: picking it is not allowed.
How to get to Hemkund Sahib
- On foot: from Ghangaria, take the right-hand fork where the trail divides just above the village. Start at first light — 5 or 6 am is normal.
- By mule or porter: mules and basket-chair porters can be hired at Ghangaria for the climb, the descent or both. Rates are set locally each season; agree the price before you start.
- Season: the gurudwara usually opens in late May, once the trail has been cleared of snow, and closes around the second week of October. Exact dates are announced each year by the gurudwara trust.
- Registration: in recent years Uttarakhand has required pilgrims to Hemkund Sahib and the Char Dham to register in advance, online or at counters on the route. Check the current rule before you leave.
Practical tips
- No one stays overnight at Hemkund. Pilgrims are asked to start down by early afternoon — around 2 pm — so plan to be at the top before noon.
- This is high altitude. Headache, nausea and unusual breathlessness are warning signs: stop, rest, and go down if they do not ease. Walking to the Valley of Flowers first gives your body a day to adapt.
- It is cold at the lake even in midsummer, and colder in the rain. Carry a warm layer, a hat and waterproofs.
- Early in the season the last stretch may cross snow. Later, rain makes the stone slick — poles help on the descent.
- Dress modestly and carry a scarf or cap to cover your head. Tobacco and alcohol are not permitted on the route.
Best treks & tours for Hemkund Sahib
These packages are the easiest way to see Hemkund Sahib with a guide, transport and lodging sorted:
Private guided trek from US$498 Rishikesh: 5-Day Valley of Flowers Trek with Private Guide
The most complete Valley of Flowers package we found on GetYourGuide: five days from Rishikesh with a private guide, the drive up the pilgrim highway, the walk in to Ghangaria and a day among the flowers. The listing is new and has no reviews yet, so read the day-by-day plan and what is included before you book.
- The drive up the Alaknanda past Devprayag and Joshimath
- Trek from Govindghat to Ghangaria with a private guide
- A full day inside the Valley of Flowers National Park
Guided tour from US$590 Haridwar: Valley of Flowers Guided 3-Day Tour
A fast guided trip from Haridwar that follows the classic road to Govindghat and on to the valley. Three days is a very tight schedule for a route that involves around ten hours of driving each way plus the trek, so check the itinerary carefully and keep a spare day in hand. No reviews yet.
- Pick-up in Haridwar, convenient for the railway station
- The road via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Joshimath to Govindghat
- A guided visit to the Valley of Flowers
Guided trek & pilgrimage from US$1800 From Delhi: Kedarnath & Valley of Flowers 9-Day Trek
A long Garhwal journey from Delhi that pairs the pilgrimage trek to Kedarnath with the Valley of Flowers — two of the great walks of Uttarakhand in one trip. It is the most expensive option here and the listing has no reviews yet, so confirm group size, lodging and what the price covers.
- The trek to the Kedarnath temple
- The Valley of Flowers National Park
- Round trip from Delhi through Garhwal
