Location:-
The name Hemkund is a Sanskrit name derived from two words 'Hem' - Snow & "Kund", Bowl
Take-off point for Hemkund Sahib is the town of Govindghat about 275 km from Rishikesh. Ample parking here and pilgrims will arrive by bus or leave their automobiles or motorcycles here.
13 km trek from here (Govindghat) is along a reasonably well maintained path to the village of Gobind Dham or Ghangaria. There is another Gurudwara where pilgrims can spend the night Few hotels and a well-maintained campground with tents and mattresses are also here. After this a 5,000 ft (1,500 m) climb in 6 km of stone paved path reaches Hemkund. There are no sleeping arrangements at Hemkund and one is advised to leave by 2PM to make it back to Gobinddham by nightfall.
From Delhi, take the Train to Haridwar and then by bus from Haridwar to Gobindghat via Rishikesh. After Gobindghat, it is a 19 km trek to Hemkund. You can also drive from Delhi to Gobindghat; it will take about 18 hours. You will need to stop for the night at least one point between Rishikesh and Gobindghat.
Visit time: Hemkund is inaccessible because of snow from October through April. Each year the first Sikh travelers arrive in May and set to work and repair the damage to the path over the harsh winter. This Sikh tradition is called "kar seva" and forms an important tenet of the Sikh faith of belonging to and contributing to the community. This place is nothing but the heaven on earth.
Height - 4329 mts above sea level A steep trek from Ghangharia leads one to this spot in about four to six hours.
It’s an auspicious pilgrimage place for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well as for people from other faiths.
Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple are built on the bank of the lake.
Covered by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers, it reflects the surroundings enchantingly on its crystal clear serene waters.
Glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake with their water and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake.
As eluded to, in the holy Granth Sahib, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births. It is believed among Sikhs that Guru Govind Singh introduced the features now universally associated with Sikhism. In 1699, he started the new brotherhood called the Khalsa (meaning the pure, from the Persian word 'Khales') an inner core of the faithful, accepted by baptism (amrit).
The five K's' date from this period: kesh (uncut hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger or short sword), kara (steel bangle), and kachh (boxer shorts).
Important is the uncut hair, adopted before the other four.
Comb is sometime designated specially as wooden.
Dagger and the shorts reflect military influence, while the bangle may be a from of charm.
Also said that Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram, meditated by the lake and regained his health after being severely wounded by Meghnath, son of the demon Ravana, during battle.
Despite its ancient connections, Hemkund/Lokpal was discovered by a Sikh Havaldar, Solan Singh and became a major pilgrimage centre only after 1930.
TO REACH BADRINATH
Through Airport
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 kms. (Dehradun 334 kms.)
Through RAIL
Nearest railhead is Haridwar, 310 kms.
BY Road
Hemkund Saheb is 5 Kms. from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.
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