Hemkund Sahib Yatra with Valley of Flowers: Route, Trek and Season

By Teerthayan • October 2026

The Hemkund Sahib Yatra is a road journey from Haridwar or Rishikesh to Govindghat on the Badrinath highway, followed by a two-day climb: first to the village of Ghangaria, then about 6 km up to the gurdwara beside the glacial lake of Hemkund at roughly 4,600 m. Because Ghangaria is also the base for the Valley of Flowers, most families plan five to seven days from Haridwar and see both. This guide covers the route, distances, registration, season and a sample plan.

Why Hemkund Sahib matters

Gurdwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib stands on the shore of a lake ringed by seven snow peaks. Sikh tradition, drawn from the Dasam Granth, describes it as the place where Guru Gobind Singh meditated in a previous life. A small Lakshman temple stands close to the gurdwara, so Hindu pilgrims also visit. The setting is stark and very high: there is snow beside the path for much of the season, and the lake stays partly frozen in early summer.

Hemkund Sahib Yatra route and distances

The journey has a road section and a walking section. Distances below are approximate and can change with road diversions.

Stage	Mode	Approximate distance	Typical time
Haridwar to Govindghat (via Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Joshimath)	Road	about 290 km	10-12 hours, usually split over two days
Govindghat to Pulna	Local taxi	about 4 km	15-20 minutes
Pulna to Ghangaria	Trek, pony or palki	about 9-10 km	5-7 hours on foot
Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib	Trek, pony or palki	about 6 km	4-6 hours up, 3-4 hours down
Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers	Trek only	about 3-4 km to the valley, more inside	a full day there and back

A helicopter service between Govindghat and Ghangaria has operated in recent seasons, weather permitting. It saves the first day's walk but not the climb to the lake, which you still do on foot or on a pony.

The climb to the lake

The 6 km from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib is the hard part of the yatra. The path rises more than 1,000 m in that short distance, with a long section of stone steps for those who want a shorter, steeper line. Start soon after first light. The weather above Ghangaria often turns cloudy or wet after midday, and there is no overnight stay at the lake, so everyone comes back down to Ghangaria the same day.

Adding the Valley of Flowers

The Valley of Flowers National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Nanda Devi National Park, starts a short walk from Ghangaria. The park is open from 1 June to 31 October. An entry fee is collected at the forest check post, entry is allowed only in the morning and early afternoon, and visitors must leave by evening; no camping is allowed inside.

• For flowers: July and August, the monsoon months, bring the widest bloom, though rain and landslides on the highway are also most likely then.
• For clearer skies: late June or September, with fewer flowers but more settled weather.
• Order: many pilgrims do Hemkund Sahib first, while they are fresh, and the gentler valley walk the next day.

Season and opening dates

Hemkund Sahib usually opens around the last week of May and closes around the second week of October, when snow returns. The Gurdwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust announces the dates each year, and the 2027 dates will be announced closer to the season. In the first weeks after opening, the path near the lake often runs between walls of snow, which is beautiful but slow. Avoid planning the yatra for the last few days before closing, as early snowfall can shut the path without much warning.

Hemkund Sahib opening date 2027

The 2027 date is not announced yet. In 2026 the gurdwara opened on 23 May, with the first batch leaving Rishikesh on 20 May, and the yatra closes on 10 October. The 2026 date was announced in mid-March, so expect the 2027 announcement around March 2027 and an opening in the last week of May, depending on snow.

Registration and documents

Pilgrims to Hemkund Sahib are required to register with the Uttarakhand Tourism system, the same one used for the Char Dham Yatra, either on the official registration portal or on the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. Registration is checked on the route, including near Pulna. Carry the same photo ID you used to register. Our Char Dham registration guide explains how the portal works.

Sample 7-day Hemkund Sahib Yatra plan from Haridwar

1. Day 1: Haridwar to Joshimath or Pipalkoti by road.
2. Day 2: Drive to Govindghat, taxi to Pulna, walk to Ghangaria.
3. Day 3: Early climb to Hemkund Sahib, darshan and ardas, return to Ghangaria.
4. Day 4: Valley of Flowers, back to Ghangaria by evening.
5. Day 5: Walk down to Pulna, drive to Badrinath (about 25 km beyond Govindghat) for evening darshan.
6. Day 6: Badrinath and Mana village, drive towards Rudraprayag or Srinagar.
7. Day 7: Return to Rishikesh or Haridwar.

Fit walkers sometimes compress this, but keeping one spare day for weather or tired legs is wise in the mountains.

Combining Hemkund Sahib with Kedarnath and Badrinath

Govindghat lies on the Badrinath road, so Hemkund Sahib sits naturally alongside the Do Dham route. Our Do Dham Yatra ex Haridwar is 5 Nights / 6 Days from Haridwar at ₹ 21,900 and covers Kedarnath and Badrinath with Mana Village. It stays at Pipalkoti or Govindghat on the fourth night, but it does not include Hemkund Sahib or the Valley of Flowers, which need at least two to three extra days. If you want to add them, ask when you enquire whether extra days can be built in. Read our Do Dham Yatra guide and Badrinath Yatra guide for the rest of the route.

Practical tips

• Altitude: the lake is far higher than Kedarnath. Climb slowly, drink water, and turn back if you have a severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion.
• Health: people with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before the yatra.
• Stay and food: Ghangaria has the gurdwara, with langar, along with small hotels and guesthouses. Expect basic rooms and limited hot water.
• Clothing: rain jacket, warm layers, gloves and good walking shoes are essential even in July. See what to carry on a pilgrimage.
• Cash: card and mobile payments can fail above Govindghat, so carry enough cash for ponies, porters and food.

Planned with a spare day and an early start, the Hemkund Sahib Yatra is one of the most rewarding walks in the Garhwal Himalaya, and the Valley of Flowers next door makes the effort of getting there doubly worthwhile.