Fun On Wheels -- Bike Trip -- Day 6: Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib

Hemkund Sahib

Day 6: Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib (Stay at Govindghat)

Until now

Day 1: Delhi/Gurgaon to Rishikesh/Devprayag(Stay at Rishikesh/Dev Prayag )
Day 2: Rishikesh/Dev Prayag  to Joshimath (Stay at Joshimath)
Day 3: Joshimath toBadrinath/Govindghat (Stay at Govindghat)
Day 4: Govindghat to Ghangharia (Stay at Ghangharia)
Day 5: Ghangharia to Valley of Flower (Stay at Ghangharia)

Yet to come 
Day 7: Govindghat/Joshimath to Rishikesh/Dev Prayag  (Stay at Rishikesh/Dev Prayag )
Day 8: Rishikesh/Dev Prayag to Delhi/Gurgaon
Day 9: Rest at Delhi/Gurgaon

Trek Route– 

Ghangharia --  Hemkund Sahib

Distances-

Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib: 6 Km Trek, On Foot or On Ponies.

Hemkund Sahib Trek Difficulty-

Moderate to Difficult.

Route– 

You can start early morning for the trek. We started the trek at around 4:30 am. It takes anywhere between 4 to 6 hours to reach Hemkund Sahib from Ghangahria. This is a steep climb with trek difficulty ranging from moderate to difficult. Keep yourself hydrated to avoid cramps. If you intend to hike (go on foot) carry only the bare essentials with you, as during the hike you would feel a lot of burden/weight on your shoulders if you carry heavy loads. You will get tired very soon if you carry heavy load. You can deposit the extra load in lockers available at Gahngharia. We deposited our extra baggage at the lockers available at “Gurudwara Sri Govind Dham”. This service is again free of cost.

You can take breaks during the trek if you wish to as you would find roadside vendors selling Tea, Biscuits, Snacks etc. One of the pilgrims suggested us that if we keep walking slowly and gradually without stopping, i.e. keep walking slowly/very slowly even when you feel tiredness you will save energy and feel less tired. Somehow it worked this time. Just adopt a trekking style that suits you- taking breaks or walking continuously depends on your will and stamina.
As you reach the upper half of the trek you start seeing the snow clad mountains, you may also see frozen river-beds along the path even in the rainy season.

“Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji”, as it is formally known, is a pilgrimage destination for the Sikhs and Hindus. There is a big star shaped Gurudwara and a Lakshmana Temple here. Hemkund Sahib Shrine and the Lakshman Temple is on the bank of a Lake having crystal clear water hence this place is also known as Hemkunt or Lokpal. The Gurudwara is visited by thousands of devotees every year. The mountains surrounding Hemkund Sahib is collectively called Hemkund Parvat.
Hemkund is surrounded by seven snowy peaks and glaciers. Hemkund which literally means “Lake of Snow” is probably the best metaphor that can be given to the high altitude ‘Lokpal’ lake and its pristine water present here. The lake is around 2 km in circumference and is fed by the glaciers from ‘Hathi Parvat” and “Saptrishi’ peaks. A small stream named ‘Him Ganga’ originates from this lake. The lake is frozen during winters.
As per the Holy Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his earlier births.

Folklore associates Hemkund Sahib to the place where Lakshmana, younger brother of Lord Rama, was brought after he fell lifeless; succumbing to the injuries he received from Meghnath in the Rama-Ravana war. There is a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake.

For information on Hemkund Sahib, its history, places to visit around Hemkund Sahib and Photo Gallery visit my Blog on Hemkund Sahib.

Hemkund Sahib

You can spend time in the Gurudwara and listen to the “Gurubani”. As you enter the Gurudwara you can seek blessings from “Guru Granth” Sahib.Wrap a blanket (available in the hall) around yourself, sit down in the hall and listen to the “Gurubani”.
You can also have Tea and “Langar”*^ as well. We were fortunate to see the rare “Bramhkamal” near the Gurudwara.
 After spending time at the Gurudwara, Lakshamana Temple and the Kund you can start your decent i.e. journey back towards Ghangharia. This is a steep decent and is slippery during rainy season, hence mind your feet to avoid any sprain or injury.
You can take some rest at Ghangahria have your meals before you start the journey back to Govindghat. The journey down hill is easier and becomes even more pleasurable after you cross the Lakshaman Ganga Bridge. You can enjoy some Tea,Biscuits,Snacks etc at a shop along the trek or at Pulna as well.
You can take shared jeeps from Pulna to Govindghat. We had some Tea and Snacks at Ghangharia, took our bikes and drove down to Govindghat. You can even drive back till Joshimath if you have some daylight left. Once you come back to Govindghat/Joshimath you can stay overnight in Hotels and rooms available at rent. You can also stay and dine at the Gurudwara at Govindghat/Joshimath.

*^Langar- Langar is the term used in Sikhism for the community kitchen in a Gurudwara where a free meal is served to all the visitors, without distinction of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity.

* Limited phone network at Govindghat. No Phone Network at Ghangharia and Hemkund Sahib. One can get landline connectivity (if not hampered by weather) at Govindghat and Ghangharia.
** Food options at Govindghat and Ghangharia are limited, but you would easily get North Indian Food.
**^ Carry Vaseline and Sunscreens to save yourself from Sunburns and charred lips & cheeks. Also when you are travelling by road during rainy season in India carry heavy duty rain coat, rain paints, wind cheaters, rain resistant boots etc as there is heavy rain pour and only heavy duty rain cover will last. Carry clothes that dry soon so even if they get wet they dry quickly.

***Life Savers: In case you don’t get booking anywhere or for last minute plans one can stay and dine at Gurudwara “Gurudwara Sri Govindghat” at Govindghat.The Food (Prasad) and Lodging is free of cost.

+ Disclaimer: Information provided above is based on self experience and collected from various other sources.

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Hemkund Sahib