History, Importance, Natural Environment and Travel Guide of Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Temple near Badrinath, Uttarakhanda
Hemkund Sahib formally known as Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji, is a world famous Sikh place to worship and everyday thousands of devotees come here to visit the Gurudwara. The Gurudwara is situated in Chamoli district Uttarakhand. This Gurudwara is solely devoted to the Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Hemkund is a Sanskrit word which means Snow Bowl. According to “Bachitra Natak”, the Autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, it was the place which housed the seven snow peaks where Guru Gobind Singh mediated intensely at Hemkund on Mahakal Kalika.
The trekking usually starts from the town called Govindghat from Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. The driving road to Hemkund Sahib starts from Rishikesh to Srinagar then to Joshimath and then to Gobinghat. After the Gobinghat destination the journey is completed by trekking. The trekking distance from Gobinghat to Hemkund Sahib is around 19kms. The route to Gurudwara is quite scenic and the tourists, pilgrims and the devotees are getting attracted towards the snow covered mountains hiding behind the cover of the forest and the river.
Ponies and palkies are also available if you are not able to trek for any reason or for child and aged people. Helicopter services for Hemkund Sahib from Govindghat is available to Ghangharia, afterwards you have to trek to reach Hemkund Sahib. Gurudwara authorities offer food and lodging facility to all the visitors and the pilgrims. The pilgrims cannot stay too long there as in the evening the place becomes very cold and the descent down becomes too difficult. The visitors make sure that before sunset they reach the Gobinghat and make their night stay comfortable there. The other most fascinating view which makes people to attract towards Gurudwara is the Gurudwara Lake which is in close proximity to the Gurudwara. This little body adds beauty to the place. The famed Valley of flowers which is formerly known as high altitude national park having a rich variety of flora and they are in full bloom during monsoon.
