Hemkund Sahib

2 daysBest: Jun–OctPilgrimage#sikh shrine#trek#lake

Gurudwara beside a glacial lake at 4,300m

Why this weekend?

Glacial lake gurudwaraLakshman templeValley of Flowers trail

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The high trek
- Govindghat start
- Ghagharia stop
- High ascent
- Darshan
- Stay or descent
Day 2 · The return
- Lake morning
- Descent
- Govindghat return

Geography & terrain

Hemkund Sahib lies in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at about 4,329 m, 20 km from Govindghat and 300 km from Rishikesh — the high gurudwara of the Sikh faith, its sacred lake and the snow peaks set above the Valley of Flowers' country.

History & culture

The site's history runs with the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's meditations — the tradition of the Guru's previous-life penance at the lake, with the gurudwara's modern building of the 20th century; the site's role in the Char Dham's ring and its story of the hard pilgrimage, with the nearby Lakshman's temple and the Valley of Flowers, gives Hemkund its high-shrine character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹800–2,000/night

Mid-range

₹2,000–4,000/night

Comfort

₹4,000+/night

Things to do

Sacred lake
High gurudwara
Snow ring
Alpine meadows
Pilgrim trek

Eat & drink

Kafuli (spinach curry)
Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
Aloo ke gutke
Bal mithai (Almora sweet)

Getting there

Fly: Dehradun (DED)
Train: Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
Road from Delhi: 250–450 km depending on valley
Getting around: Shared taxis and buses on hill roads

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹4,000–9,500 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹800–4,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹500–900
Per day · Activities: ₹400–800

Month by month

Jan · Snow: −5–8°C · Snow rain
Feb · Snow: −3–10°C · Snow rain
Mar · Good: 2–14°C · Light rain
Apr · Best: 7–20°C · None rain
May · Best: 12–25°C · None rain
Jun · Good: 16–30°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 18–28°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 17–27°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Best: 14–26°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Best: 8–20°C · None rain
Nov · Cold: 2–14°C · None rain
Dec · Snow: −2–9°C · Snow rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Jun–Oct
Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The season runs June–October — the snow closes the pass otherwise
The altitude asks the steady pace and the warm layers
The langar of the gurudwara serves the trekkers — the light packs

Frequently asked questions

What is Hemkund Sahib?

The high sacred lake and gurudwara of the Sikh faith in the Garhwal.

What is there to do?

The trek, the lake and the darshan of the high shrine.

How long is the visit?

Two days of the trek.