Ensconced, as if an ascetic at penance, at 4,329 mtrs. height in the centre of seven snow-peaked massive mountains is Hemkund Sahib, the holiest of holy Gurudwara of the Sikh faith. The word ‘Hemkund’ means ‘Lake of Ice’. The seven snow-covered mountains are collectively called Hemkund Parbat, and the lake is a glacial lake, on the water of which ice slabs would be found floating even in summer months when pilgrimage peaks. The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is situated on the bank of river Alakananda and in the middle of the Sapt Shring (meaning ‘Seven-Peak’) Mountain range.
It is widely believed that Sikh Guru Gobind Singh ji had undergone hard penance for several decades in his previous birth and merged with God. In the previous birth his avatar was believed to have been known as Medhas Rishi and this fact is mentioned in the Markandeya Puran. The glacial lake ‘Hemkund’ was known as ‘Lokpal’ Lake to most people of the Himalayas down the ages. This lake remains frozen for over eight months of a year, from mid-October to June.
Among the Sikhs, the site is popular as ‘tap ashram’ (meaning ‘the hermitage for tapasya’), where one can pray, meditate and seek bl;essings of the Almighty.
The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara also shelters the eternal scriptures of Sikhism, ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, which is the fountain of spiritual enlightenment. As in the Sikhism the community is also believed collectively a Guru, the three Gurus are the sources of spiritual guidance and all three are present in the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. The site is sacred especially as it is widely believed that Guru Gobind Singh ji instituted a core group of faith as ‘Khalsa’ (meaning ‘pure’) and prescribed baptism for a devotee before induction into the Khalsa. This was also believed to be the time that famous five ‘K’s were put in practice during this period as an identity factor of the Khalsa.
These K’s are, ‘kesh’ (long flowing uncut hair), ‘kangha’ (a comb to put that hair in proper setting), ‘kirpan’ (small dagger), “karha'(steel bangle) and ‘kachha’ (short loin-cloth worn between legs). According to available records, this holy shrine and a temple devoted to Lakshman, the brother and bodyguard of Lord Ram, are the highest pilgrimage sites in the country.
The gurudwara is visited by thousands of Sikhs from all parts of the world every year, and the first batch of pilgrims repairs the road to the gurudwara mandatorily. This is a very special ‘kar seva’ the community of the first batch pilgrims (also collectively called Guru) has to perform following the tenets of the Sikhism. It is symbolic to the services to the community and society.
The legend has it that during the Treta Yuga, Lakshman here took temporary rest for convalescence after being seriously wounded at the battle with Meghnad, the son of Ravana. Considering that the site was also mentioned as an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus also.
How to reach the holy site
By Air
● The nearest airstrip is at Dehradeun, Jolly Grant airport. From there to Rishikesh or Haridwar
By Rail
●Nearest Railways station is at Rishikesh
By Road
●The take-off point for Hemkund is the town of Gobindghat about 275 km from Rishikesh.
●One can even take a long drive in a personal car or a taxi and halt somewhere between Haridwar and Gobindghat. It takes about 18- hours for driving up from Delhi to Gobindghat. But services by Uttarakhand road transport department is also available.
●From Delhi. take the train to Rishikesh.
●Bus to Gobindghat.
●After Gobindghat, it is a 15-km trek to Hemkund.
The mythology and the legends both draw people here. As the scriptures mention, the site is dedicated to the 10th Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh ji, who in his previous birth had meditated at that point of the Hemkund Parbat. The venerable Guru had himself mentioned the tale in his autobiography Bachitar Natak’ who He was and what had broght Him there perched at that dizzy height performing tapasya.
According to scripturesdm, abnd as confirmed by the Bachitar Natak’, Guru Gobind Singh ji was in his previous birth a descendent of Lure, son of Ramchandra. Accordin to records, Guru has rekated His own story in the Bachitar Natak’ as under:
“I shall now relate my own story, how God sent me into thisworld. I was busy performing penance on the hills of “Hemkunt` where seven peaks are prominent. The place is called “Sapt Shring where King Pandu had performed Yoga, there I practiced austerity and worshipped the god of death.” Guru detailed about how the united brothers might in expanding their kingdom could conquer Northern India for many years. The story also related how division between the descendents of the two brothers had broken the family and they became sworn enemies to each other. The Guru Ji also narrated his previous incarnation and enlightenment at the Sapt Shring Mountain range.
According to Hindu Mythology, the site was where Lakshman performed hard penance. The Ganga which flows of the Sapt Shring Mountain range is also named as Lakshman Ganga.
One of the unique natural resplendence is in form of the Valley of Flowers, which is the breeding ground of certain unique eco-systems of the Himalayas. There are many strang species of flora in the valley, which are subjects of scientists botanists and geologists.
There are a number of National Parks in the vicinity. All these form the World Heritage Site. According to Uttarakhand government’s Information Centre the national parks are expanded in an area measured as $7.50 km². The highest National Park is Gauri Parbat at 6719 mtrs, height above the sea level.
WHAT PILGRIMS MUST KNOW
● The site is a glacial lake, and therefore average temperature nears zero even during the season. Therefore, warm clothes must be taken along adequately. Over eight months in a year the lake remains in frozen state.
● The reflection of the Sapt Shring Moiuntain range falls in the Glacial lake waters and brings the entire nature resplendent in inexplicable hues.
● It is 15-km uphill trek begins from Govindghat from a Gurudwara after morning prayers and generally serving some delicious halwa. The trekking is on the stone-paved hard road, for which one must start early in the morning.
● From Govindghat, after trekking about 11-km the road takes pilgrims to a point called Govinddham or Ghangaria. There is another gurudwara and even some hotels for night stay. Beds, mattresses, blankets etc. are provided in all these palces, So no use of carrying heavy luggage. If tired one can even stay for the night at Govinddham. Beds and blankets provided in the Gurudwara.
● At the main holy site, Hemkund Sahib there are no places to stay for the night, so pilgrims must for 6-km down the mountain track to Govinddham.
● The Valley of Flower is a protected area for innumerable endangered species of flowers. The flower beds or not be damaged. One should use them only for scientific studies or academic research.
● There is a ski spot, Auli at 10,000 ft. It is a good stopover to acclimatise the environment and weather.
● Just below Auli by 20-munites roapway one can reach Joshimath.
as the water speed with heavy amount of muds and silts. Ganges in this part of the Himalays
● If it rains avoid taking bath as the water speed with heavy amount of muds and silts. Ganges in this part of the Himalays is known as silt-laden.
● A pilgrim must be in good health as the vagaries of Nature even during the season time, is unknown. Avoid swimming in the lakew, if one is restless at not takng the bath, the person may take a dip ikn icy cold lake water. Pilgrims must carry good quantity of first aid medicines, before embarking upon trekking to the shrine.
