Hemkund Sahib, Valley of flowers, Uttarakhand India

Hemkund Sahib, also known as Snow Lake, is perched at an altitude of 4,329 m above sea level. This place is surrounded by snow-covered mountains, which are collectively known as Hemkund Parvat. According to a belief, it is said that the tenth guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Govind Singh Ji, meditated on the banks of this lake.

 Hemkund Sahib or Hemkunt Sahib is a sikh gurudwara devoted to Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, India in Himalayas at 15,200 ft above sea level. Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib is constructed near glacial lake surrounded by seven peaks adorned by Nishan Sahib on it's clif. It can be reached on foot or by ponies from Gobind Ghat on the Rishikesh - Badrinath Highway.

It is also believed that it is the same lake where several sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology performed penance. In addition, Rishi Medhasa belonging to the Markandeya Purana and brother of Lord Rama, Lakshman also performed penance at this lake. This lake is the source of water of the Laxman Ganga stream, which is also known as Hem Ganga. This water stream merges at Ghangaria with Pushpawati stream flows from Valley of Flowers.

With around 2 km of circumference, the lake offers crystal clear view of the surrounding Saptashringa peaks, located at an elevation of 5,500 m. The best time to visit this place is between July and October.

Located at a height of more than 15,200 feet, Sri Hemkund Sahib is the highest Gurudwara in the world. It is surrounded by seven mountain peaks, each of which is adorned by a Nishan Sahib on its cliff. The Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is star-shaped and made up of concrete masonry and stone. It is situated on the shore of the pristine Hemkund Lake. Earlier, Sri Hemkund Sahib was only accessible by foot from Govind Ghat. Now Deccan Air offers Heli-services from Govind Ghat to Ghangaria, which is the last human habitation centre on the way to Sri Hemkund Sahib. As the pilgrimage is situated in the beautiful Himalayas at such a high altitude, the route to Sri Hemkund Sahib is quite scenic and awe-inspiring.

The other two most popular tourist attractions which can be explored are Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib and Temple of Lord Lakshman. Located on the shores of the lake, Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib is a magnificent star-shaped structure constructed of stone. On the other hand, the temple located within the destination is dedicated to Lord Rama.

For travelling to this place, one has to trek for around 15 km from Govindghat. While trekking, travellers will pass through pine forests where ferns, alpine flowers, rhododendron and wild roses are available in plenty.