The Hemkund Sahib Yatra opened this year on May 25 and will go on till October. Located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli region, the Himalayan gurudwara is a revered, prettily-located Sikh shrine
Dedicated to the tenth Sikh spiritual leader, Guru Gobind Singh, who meditated here in his lifetime, the sacred site is referenced in the Dasam Granth scripture & is a popular destination for spiritual journeys.
The icy mountain lake in front of the gurudwara is encircled by 7 peaks, each featuring a Nishan Sahib flag perched on rocky ledges. Situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, it sits at a height of qround 15,000 ft.
Devotees trek over the Hemkund Glacier to get to the divine Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib -- 4 km is negotiable by a vehicle and the last 9 km is on foot or mule.
Aerial transport to the site operates between Govind Ghat and Govind Dham (Ghangaria). Covering roughly 13 km, the ride duration is about 8 minutes and costs Rs 10,000 round trip. Each chopper can carry up to 5 passengers.
In 1936, the inaugural Sikh temple at Hemkund was founded, marking the beginning of its spiritual legacy.
A gathering of devotees offering prayers at Hemkund in 1960.
The present shrine at Hemkund is the result of a rebuilding project begun in the 1960s, following a visit by Major General Harkirat Singh, then serving as the engineer-in-chief of the Indian military forces.
During the colder months, the shrine is covered in thick snow, and pilgrimages begin again in early spring when the shrine welcomes back pilgrims for the yearly Hemkund Sahib journey.