Near the Lokpal lake, located at high altitude in the state of Uttarakhand, lies the scenic area of Hemkund. It is an extremely important place for the Hindus and Sikhs primarily, as well as people of other faiths. On the banks of this lake lie two temples – the Lakshman temple and a Gurudwara. 

The major attraction of this place, apart from the temples is the scenic beauty. The lake is surrounded by seven ice capped peaks and glaciers. These glaciers also give rise to a few rivers like the Himaganga.

According to Sikh legends, this is the place that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of the Sikh religion meditated in an earlier birth.

Also, this is said to be the very same place that Lord Rama’s brother Lakshman meditated after getting severely injured, and regained his health.

The holy place of Hemkund can be reached by air (the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, about 105 kilometers away), by rail (the nearest station is Rishikesh, 292 kilometers away) and by road. The nearest town is Ghangharia, which is about 5 kilometers away. The nearby rivers are also holy as they are tributaries of the mighty River Ganges. 

Legend has it that an age old poem described a serene, unknown place deep within the confines of the Himalayas and surrounded by seven mountains. The author of the poem was said to have united with the Lord whilst meditating here in a previous incarnation. This area was located years later by a Sikh soldier – who likened it to the place in the poem. Another soldier then laid the foundation stone of the gurudwara. After this Hemkund was regarded as a place of Sikh worship, and the public was able to access it.

A yatra to Hemkund Sahib can take a few days. Of course, for those living far away, most of the time will be spent on travel. However the actual temple and gurudwara visiting can take up to one day. Near the temples is a 5 kilometer long stretch called the Valley of Flowers – which has been declared a national area by the Government of India. This trek is generally recommended as it is quite easy, and since it is located on the way from Gobindghat to Hemkund it is recommended that travelers take rest in this area for a day. The trek from here to Hemkund however is a rigorous and physically testing walk. 

These days people generally combine a visit to Hemkund to other religious destinations, such as Haridwar, Rishikesh and more. Hemkund is reached by crossing the five massive tributaries of the River Alaknanda: