Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund Sahib, also spelled Hemkunt Sahib, is a Sikh Gurudwara located in Chamoli District of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand, approximately 4,632 meters above sea level, and is visited by thousands of Sikh pilgrims each year between June and September. Hemkund Sahib, which literally means “lake of snow,” is significant because it is the location where the 10th Sikh Guru Govind Singh meditated in his previous birth.
Before Sikhs recognized the place as Hemkund, the locals referred to it as ‘Lokpal’. There was and is a Laxman temple in Lokpal that Hindu pilgrims char dham yatra visit during the summer season. Lokpal means “that looks after the lok (people),” and the location was thought to be where Hindu gods Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer) lived to protect the people.
The Laxman temple on the site tells the story of Laxman being brought to Lokpal by his wife, who prayed to Hanuman (Lord Shiva in the form of a monkey) to save Laxman after he fell unconscious during the battle with Ravana. Hanuman came from Sri Lanka in response to Laxman’s wife’s prayer. Hanuman brought the Sanjivani booti (herb) from Dronagiri hill, and Laxman eventually recovered.
The lake at Lokpal, located at a high altitude and surrounded by seven spectacular snow-capped Himalayas, is popular among nature lovers. Today, in addition to Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, nature lovers and adventurers also trek to Hemkund.
Connection between Guru Govind Singh and Hemkund Sahib.
According to Guru Govind Singh’s ‘Bachittar Natak’, “Hemkunt Mountain is auspiciously situated among ‘Sapat Sring’, a Himalayan mountain chain.” In my previous incarnation, I spent a lot of time at that location contemplating God. When the Almighty allowed it, I was born in the Dark Ages.”
The story of the tenth Sikh Guru can be told as follows: When goddess Durga was supposed to defeat the demons, she fought endlessly, but it char dham yatra tour operators was difficult for her to capture the demons blessed by Lord Shiva. Durga sought help when she arrived in the Himalayas and saw a Brahmin saint meditating on a lion’s skin. When the demons appeared, the Brahmin was asked where Durga was hidden. Samaundh Rishi responded that it is his duty to save the woman who has approached him. The demons summoned the Rishi to fight. He responded that it is not in his blood to fight because he is a Brahmin, but he would create a Kshtriya to fight alongside them. He thus created a Chhetriya youth. This young man fought hard and killed all of the demons. Durga named the young man Dusth Daman, and Samaundh Rishi instructed him to meditate at Hemkunt Lake, which is surrounded by seven tall Himalayas. Dusth Daman followed his creator’s orders. Later, when Dusth Daman’s meditation was deep enough to meet with God, God asked Dusth Daman to take on human form in Kaliyug and fight the wrongdoers. Thus, Dusth Daman was born as Govind Rai in the home of Tegh Bahadur Rai and Gujri. Tegh Bahadur Rai is the ninth Sikh Guru, or Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The Re-Discovery of Hemkund Sahib
Guru Govind Singh mentioned Hemkund Sahib in his composition ‘Bachittar Natak’ and described the surrounding environment. It was a lake surrounded by seven mountains, but the Guru’s message was unclear to devotees. Kavi Santokh Singh’s 14-volume Sri Gur Pratap Suraj (Prakash) Granth was first published in 1843. This added to the story of Dusth Daman’s creation and place of meditation. In the late nineteenth century, Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, a Nirmala scholar and Sikh historian, published a compilation of various Sikh tirthas (holy places). This descriptive collection included Hemkunth as a tirtha. Bhai Vir Singh, a Punjab historian, reformer, and poet, published Sri Kalgidhar Chamatkar (miracles of the plume-adorned one) in the twentieth century, explaining Hemkund using information from Bachittar Natak, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj (Prakash) Granth, and a compilation of Sikh tirthas.
Kalgidhar Chamatkar inspired a retired granthi from the Indian Army, Sant Sohan Singh, to rediscover Hemkund Sahib. During his search, he met people who were heading to Lokpal, a pilgrimage site revered by Hindu devotees as the location from which the three prominent Hindu gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva – looked after the people. Sant Sohan Singh joined the tirtha yatris, or pilgrims. When Sant Sohan Singh arrived at Lokpal, where there is a temple dedicated to Laxman, the younger brother of Lord Rama (incarnation of Lord Vishnu and hero of the Hindu holy epic Ramayana), he realized he had arrived at the exact location described as Hemkund by Guru Govind Singh in his composition Bachittar Natak. The clear lake with the image of the surrounding Saptashring (seven mountains) and the heavenly beauty of Lokpal confirmed Hemkund’s rediscovery.
Sant Sohan Singh told other Sikh devotees about his discovery, but they remained silent. Sohan Singh approached Bhai Vir Singh, who was willing to devote his entire life to finding Hemkund Sahib. Bhai Vir Singh invested time, effort, and money in the rediscovery process. A Gurudwara was built at Hemkund Sahib with the help of a local Sikh family: village chief Ratan Singh Chauhan, his son Nanda Singh Chauhan, other Sikh locals, and Sant Mohan Singh – Hawaldar in the Indian Army. Within a short period of time, Hemkund Sahib gained recognition among Sikh devotees.
Previously, the route was difficult, but with the flow of devotees, a pathway to Hemkund Sahib was built.
Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib
Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib, the only Gurudwara at such a height, differs from other Sikh pilgrimages in terms of architectural design. This is the world’s only pentagonal Gurudwara. Hemkund Sahib delights pilgrims with breathtaking scenery, enchanting natural beauty, magnificent architecture, and overwhelming peace. Laxman Ganga flows from the crystal clear lake Hemkund, adding to the heavenly atmosphere of Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib.
Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib represents the human spirit’s invincibility in the face of adversity. Sant Sohan Singh’s desire to rediscover Guru Govind Singh’s former meditation spot and establish a Gurudwara there was finally realized. Despite the harsh climatic conditions, difficult terrain, distance, and snowfall throughout the winter, Sant Sohan Singh and his team built a Gurudwara at Hemkund. Sant Mohan Singh took on the responsibility of guarding the Gurudwara and spent the cold nights in a tree trunk on Govindghat during winter. This is the faith and deep respect that Sikh devotees have for Guru, with “waheguru” being their only holy mantra (chant).
Trek to Hemkund Sahib.
The trek to Hemkund Sahib begins at Govindghat, approximately 19 kilometers from Joshimath. There is a motorable road connecting Joshimath and Govindghat. Tourists can reach Ghangaria by trekking or hiring a pony or porter from Govindghat. The route is a 14-kilometer steep hill with breathtaking beauty. Trekkers find it difficult to distinguish between the physical pain of trekking in the steep mountain terrain and the joy of enchanting Himalayas, mesmerising rivers, and the sweet smell of flowers. Trekkers must be cautious on this trekking route to stay on the safe side of the Himalayan ranges; otherwise, the pony may dash them down to the river. This route is usually crowded because it is the main route for tourists visiting Valley of Flowers National Park.
Ghagaria is the place to spend the night because staying at Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib is not permitted. Ghagaria to Hemkund Sahib is a 6km steep hill trek.
Best time to visit Hemkund Sahib.
Hemkund Sahib is open from June 5th to October 5th each year. If you visit the mesmerizing lake in early June, you can still see ice blocks on the upper layer. After September, the high-altitude area becomes colder by the day, and snowfall begins after a month. Thus, the best time to visit Hemkund Sahib is between June and September. Skipping the monsoon season may be wise if tourists find it difficult to cover the steep hill during the rain.
For a long and difficult trek, travel agents in haridwar a raincoat and warm clothes are essential, as are comfortable shoes. Medicines for colds and dizziness are also advised.
How to Reach Hemkund Sahib
Pilgrims or tourists visiting Hemkund Sahib should first arrive in Rishikesh, and then travel by bus or taxi to Joshimath. Govindghat is the next destination on the road from Joshimath, 19 kilometers away. The trek begins at Govindghat and lasts 14 kilometers to Gangharia, from which Hemkund Sahib is only 6 kilometers away. Here we discuss how to reach Joshimath:
By air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Dehradun, 21 kilometers from Rishikesh and 268 kilometers from Joshimath.
By railway: Rishikesh railway station is the nearest railhead, 251 kilometers from Joshimath.
By road: Joshimath is well connected to the rest of Uttarakhand state. Joshimath connects to Govindghat and Chamoli via motorable road.
Places Near Hemkund Sahib
Ghangaria is the village that serves as a base camp for trekkers visiting Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. The road to Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers diverges from Ghangaria, a village with hotels and few houses. Ghangaria, which is heavily populated between June and July and August, is 6 kilometers from Hemkund Sahib and 3 kilometers from the Valley of Flowers.
Valley of flowers:
Badrinath: Badri is one of Lord Vishnu’s names. Badrinath is the fourth and final Char Dham destination. Badrinath has the twin hills of Nar (Arjun, the third Pandav in the Mahabharata) and Narayan (Lord Vishnu), with the Alakhanand Ganga flowing near the Lord Vishnu Temple. Alakhanand is one of Ganga’s 12 streams, and she originated to carry the ashes of King Bhagirath’s ancestors.
Joshimath, located in the Chamoli district of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand, is 6,150 meters above sea level and serves as the starting point for several mountain climbing expeditions as well as the trekking route to the major Char Dham pilgrimage of Badrinath. The Narsinha temple of Bhavishya Badri, which represents the future Badri and is one of the Panch Badris, stands majestically in Joshimath. After a 10-kilometer trek, you will arrive in Tapovan, where you will see a hot spring and the breathtaking beauty of the Dhauliganga.