Hemkund sahib is a pilgrimage site or a holy place of Sikhs located in Chamoli district of Uttrakhand state in India. Hemkund sahib is also known as Gurudwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib Ji and is devoted to the tenth Sikh Guru “Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji”. Hemkund sahib is star shaped and is one of the highest Gurudwara situated in Himalaya Mountains. This place is famous for its scenic beauty, beautiful lake and architecture too. More people take this yatra as like chardham with hemkund sahib

Complete Itinerary For Chardham Yatra With Hemkund Sahib

Day 01: Haridwar – Barkot (210kms/7-8hr) HT: 1352 MTS.

After breakfast proceed to Barkot via Mussoorie. En route visit Kempty fall. Upon arrival check in into the hotel, rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel at Barkot.

No activities Reach Barkot and have proper rest. Acclimatize your mind and body to start a trek to Yamnotri from JanakiChatti. Once you reach Yamnotri.

Day 02: Barkot – Yamunotri - Barkot (42 Kms & 5 Kms Trek) Each side : -

Morning leave for Janki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti & Fool Chatti. On arrival Janki Chatti start Trek of 06 kms for Yamunotri, On Arrive Yamunotri Holi Dip in Garam Kund, than Pooja and Darshan of Shree Yamunotri Ji, after Darshan and Pooja, afternoon start trek back to Janki Chatti on arrival Janki Chatti meet with driver and drive back to Barkot. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Hanuman Chatti: The confluence of Hanuman Ganga & Yamuna River.

Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again.

Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.

Divya Shila: A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Day 03: Barkot – Uttarkashi (100kms/4hr) HT : 1158 MTS.

Drive to Uttarkashi. Visit Vishwanath Temple & Others. Check in Hotel. Rest day at leisure. Night Halt.

Uttarkashi: Uttarkashi is a small and beautiful town, situated between two rivers; Varuna and Ashi, whose water flow into the Bhagirathi from either side of the town. Elevated, at a height of 1588 meters, this little town is very similar to Kashi and Varanasi, in that it has the same kind of temples and ghats and likewise, a north or ‘uttar’ facing river. The major temple is the Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Two other very important temples are located in the Chowk area. These are the Annapurna Temple and the Bhairav Temple. It is said, that once there were 365 temples here. Hiuen Tsang referred to this place as Brahma Puran, while the Skanda Puran has recorded it as Varunavata. It is believed that in the second millennium of Kaliyug, Kashi will be submerged, and Uttarkashi will replace it as an important religious centre.

Visit Kashi Vishwanath, Uttarkashi + Aadi Shakti Mata Darshan (Mahisasur Mardini)

Rituals & Activities: Get chance to perform Abhishek Puja in Kashi Vishwanath Temple.Upon reaching Ganganani visit Parasar Muni Temple, enjoy bathing in Hot water spring (Tapt Kund). Your body will be completely relaxed after the tiring trek of Yamnotri.

Day 04: Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Harsil – Uttarkashi (120Kms / 05 hrs) round trip

With packed breakfast & post Tea/ Coffee leave for Gangotri early in the morning. Offering prayers & pooja darshan, later drive back to Uttarkashi , en route visit Gangnani. Overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

Gangotri: Gangotri temple is 18th Century temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. It is located near a sacred stone where king Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shiva Ganga is believed to have touched earth at this spot. Accordingly to another legend, Pandavas performed the great Deva Yagna here to a tone the death of their kinsmen in the epic battle of Mahabharata. The temple is an exquisite 20 ft. high structure made of white granite.

Gangnani: Further up on way to Gangotri, is the hot water spring at Gangnani, where one can have refreshing bath in the kund called Rishikund. There is a temple near the kund dedicated to the Sage Parashar, believed to be the father of Ved Vyas.

Ritual and Activities: Perform Snan at Gangotri Ghat (VIP Ghat), Ganga Pujan & Aarti at Gangotri Ghat , Darshan of Bhagirath Shila ,Darshan of Gauri Ganesha Temple, Finally Gangotri Temple Darshan after that you must have Darshan of Surya Kund. While returning Darshan of Gupteshwar Mahadev temple in Dharali , Interact with Tibetan Culture and people in Harsil.

Day 05: Uttarkashi – Rudraprayag/Sitapur (250 Kms/ 8-9 hrs)

Leave very early in the morning for almost day long drive to Rudraprayag. On your drive you would pass through Ganga giving way to Tehri Dam (The Hydro Electric Project). Overnight stay in the hotel at Rudraprayag.

Rituals & Activities: Visit of Tehri Dam,,Rudraprayag & Sangam Darshan ( Merge of Alaknanda & Mandakini).

Day 06: Rudraprayag – Kedarnath

Morning drive to Gauri Kund & start trek for Shree Kedarnath. On arrival, darshan/pooja at Kedarnath. Overnight stay in Kedarnath (at own arrangements & cost- Only Govt’s Accommodation available).

Amidst the dramatic mountain escapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlingas’ of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 mts. on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. Kedarnath is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnathtemple is said to be more than a 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were handled in the earlier days. The temple has a “Garbha Griha” for worship and a Mandap apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Day 07: Kedarnath – Rudraprayag

Morning after Pooja & trek down to Gauri Kund. On arrival at Gauri Kund, pick-up & transfer to Rudraprayag hotel for dinner & overnight stay.

Day 08: Rudraprayag – Badrinath (220 kms / 07-08 hrs)

Morning after breakfast proceed to Badrinath via Joshimath, (Narsimha Temple, Sankaracharaya Math) Badrinath. Evening Darshan & Pooja at Badrinath temple. Overnight stay at Badrinath.

Rituals & Activities: Have Darshan of Badri Vishal if time allows otherwise Important visit to Nag Nagin Pith (One of the important place in India for Sarp kal Dosh Nivaran ) , Short Visit to Mana Village (Vyas Cave , Ganesha Cave , Keshav Prayag , Darshan of Sarasawati Udgam (origin) ), Charan Paduka Darshan , ,Short visit of Ekadasi Gufa & hanuman Gufa. View of Vishnu Prayag ,Nandprayag , Karnprayag while returning back to Rudraprayag.

Badrinath: Cradled in the twin Mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan is the holiest of the four main shrines – Badrinath along the left bank of river Alaknanda with the towering Neelkantha Peaks as the splendid backdrop. Once the spot was carpeted with badris or wild berries and hence was famous as Badri van. Legend has it, when the Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help suffering humanity; the earth was enable to withstand the force of its decent. Therefore the mighty Ganga was split into 12 holy channels. Alaknanda was one of them that later became the abode of Lord Vishnu or Badrinath.

Narad Kund: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

Brahama Kapal: It is a flat platform a few yards north of the temple and on the bank of river Alaknanda. It is an important place for shhradh ceremony or offering of pinds to ensure a heavenly place for dead ancestors or manes. It is said that offering pind here, the manes are permanently enshrined in heaven and no more pinds are to be done elsewhere ever afterwards. Legends have it that when Shiva chopped of the fifth head of Brahma, it got stuck to his trident. Lastly with the blessing of Lord Vishnu at Badrivan, the head of Brahma fell down from the trident at this place & hence the name Brahma-Kapal (head).

Sheshnetra: It is a large block of stone between tow small seasonal lakes carrying an eye of Sheshnag the eye formation is quite natural, 1.5kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag s eye, it is believed that the seshnag waits at this place patiently to accompany the lord on his reincarnation. Mana Village: Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet. The women of the village offer Choli to the deity on closing day of the temple each year.

Bhim Pul: On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers. Vyas Gufa (cave): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

Day 9: Badrinath – ghangharia (20 kms and 13 kms trek)

Morning after breakfast,check-out from the hotel & transfer to Govind ghat. From here you go to Ghanghariya by trek or pony on self payment basis.

Day 10: Ghangharia - Hemkund Shahib – Govind Ghat

(6 kms trek to the hemkund shhib and and 19 kms trek to govindghat)

Day 11: Govidghat -Rudraprayag (140 kms)

Morning after breakfast proceed to Rudraprayag .En-route visit of Narsimha Temple Joshimath & Bhavishya badri Teample (6 Km Trek) .Later transfer to Rudraprayag for Dinner & Overnight stay.

Narsimha Temple, Joshimath is about 1200 years old. Dedicated to Vishnu, the presiding deity of the temple is Narsimha, the half-man, half-lion and fourth incarnation of Vishnu. Like Badrinath, he is also sitting in the sukhasana. The characteristic feature of the deity is that its left wrist is very thin and is getting thinner by the day.

At the beginning of every winter, the deity from the Badrinath temple is brought in a procession and kept in this temple for 6 months.

Bhavishya Badri is at a distance of about 17 km east of Joshimath on Joshimath-Lata-Malari route and is at an altitude of 2744 m. Pilgrims trek beyond Tapovan up the Dhauliganga River to reach this holy spot. The idol of Narsimh (the god with the head of lion) is enshrined here. Traditionally it is believed that a day will come when the present route to the Badarinath will be inaccessible and the Lord Badarinath will be worshipped here and this is why the place is called Bhavishya Badari.

Day 12: Rudraprayag – Dehradun (200 Km/6 Hrs)

Morning after breakfast, check-out from the hotel & transfer to Dehradun. En-route visit of Rishikesh.

Triveni Ghat: A confluence of three holy important Rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathy, is a most revered sacred bathing spot in Rishikesh and is situated on the banks of Ganges River. It is of belief that those who take a dip in water at this ghat washes away all the sins and purifies the soul and will have salvation, a relief from all sins carried out; the water here has the power to purify them. Daily in the morning and evening there are thousands who take bath here and enjoy the Maha Aarti being performed. It very soothing to sit on the banks of the river and enjoy the cool breeze from the river.

Trayambakeshwar Temple - On the east bank of the Ganges at Lakshman Jhula Bridge, is 13 stories high, with different deities throughout.

Lakshman Jhula – Ram Jhoola, – is a 450 feet long an iron suspension bridge situated in Rishikesh in Indian state of Uttarakhand. Lakshman Jhula is one of the most prominent landmarks at Rishikesh. It is made over river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. It is said that Lakshman crossed Ganges on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built. Lakshman Jhula was built in 1939. There are spectacular views from the bridge.

In evening transfer to Dehradun.