Hemkund Sahib Latest Travel News

Fresh snowfall has been reported in Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath Dham in Chamoli district, while light snowfall was also recorded in Pithoragarh. The Meteorological Department has forecast light rain and snowfall in high-altitude areas of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh on 18 January, especially above 3,400 metres.

Dense fog is expected over the next three days in parts of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Champawat, Pauri, and Dehradun, with cold wave conditions continuing in the plains. In several high-altitude regions, frozen water pipelines have forced residents to melt snow for drinking water. Weather conditions are expected to improve by February.

The doors of Hemkund Sahib will be closed today  for the winter season on October 10. This year, a total of 2,71,367 devotees visited the revered Sikh pilgrimage site, significantly higher than last year’s 1,83,722 pilgrims, despite challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Despite challenging weather in Uttarakhand, the Chardham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage broke all records, with 41,12,995 devotees visiting by July 28, 2025. Kedarnath led with 14,39,666 visitors, followed by Badrinath (12,05,798), Gangotri (6,62,989), Yamunotri (5,80,433), and Hemkund Sahib (2,23,809). With around 2,000 daily registrations, the growing number of pilgrims reflects their unwavering devotion.

The monsoon is in full force in Uttarakhand, yet the devotion for the Char Dham Yatra remains unwavering. Despite heavy rains, cloudbursts, landslides, and overflowing rivers, pilgrims continue to flock to the sacred sites, including Hemkund Sahib. Data up to July 6 shows 13,254 visitors, with 5,892 at Badrinath Dham, 2,151 at Shri Hemkund Sahib, 3,124 at Kedarnath Dham, 1,983 at Gangotri, and 104 at Gaumukh, reflecting the enduring faith amidst challenging weather.

The onset of the monsoon has led to the suspension of helicopter services for Kedarnath Dham, Badrinath, and Hemkund Sahib as part of the Char Dham Yatra. 

Since the portal opening ceremony on May 25, 2025, Hemkund Sahib has seen a surge in devotees, with around 5,000 arriving daily as melting snow improves access and eases the pilgrimage route.

So far, 59,151 devotees have visited Hemkund Sahib. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, 8,069 devotees made their way to Hemkund Sahib.

Over the past 24 hours, several Uttarakhand regions, including Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts, have been lashed by rain. Meanwhile, higher elevations, notably around Kedarnath Dham and Hemkund Sahib, experienced fresh snowfall.

Online booking of heli service tickets will start from 12 noon on May 19. Passengers can book tickets by visiting IRCTC's official website heliyatra.irctc.co.in

Registration will be mandatory for the passengers to register for the journey on the website of Uttarakhand Tourism Department. Ticket booking without registration will not be valid. Talking about the fare, the total fare for a passenger from Govindghat to Ghangaria on both sides has been fixed at Rs 10080. This service is especially useful for the elderly, Divyang or those passengers who are unable to travel on foot on inaccessible mountain routes. Get latest updates on Hemkund Sahib Heli Services.

Soldiers of the Indian Army are actively working to clear snow and create a safe pathway for pilgrims. The road from Ghangaria to Atlakoti has already been cleared, and efforts are underway to open the remaining stretch. The first batch of pilgrims for Hemkund Sahib is scheduled to depart from Rishikesh on May 22.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Kedarnath (12.9 km) and Hemkund Sahib (12.4 km) ropeway projects under the Parvatmala Pariyojana to enhance pilgrimage accessibility. These projects will significantly reduce travel time, boost tourism, and generate employment, with a total investment of over Rs 6,800 crore.

Hemkund Sahib, the revered Sikh pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, is scheduled to open for devotees on May 25, 2025. 

This year, more than 1.8 Lakh pilgrims visited the holy shrine of Hemkund. The closure ceremony began early Thursday in the presence of the president of Shri Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara Management Committee Narinderjit Singh Bindra along with the office bearers of the committee and administrative officials.

Narendra Kaur, a resident of Chandigarh, may have become physically weak but her spirits are so high that she has been visiting Shri Hemkund Sahib continuously for 40 years. She definitely comes every year to pay obeisance at the Guru Sthan even after a stent was put in the heart.

Sikh Naujwan Sabha President Amrik Singh is also included in this. This group of devotees is going to Hemkund Sahib by road. The caravan of the group will go from Jamshedpur to Rishikesh via Govindghat, then to Hemkund Sahib, then from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib in Amritsar and Dera Sahib and then return to Jamshedpur.

Due to snowfall, the temperature in Hemkund has also dropped. At the same time, the devotees who come to visit Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara are also enjoying this snowfall.

The portals of the famous Sikh Gurudwara located in district Chamoli here were opened today amid the chants of “Jo Bole so Nihal” and devotional music played by the Sikh Regiment Band.

Hemkund Sahib Yatra to begin on May 25, first batch of pilgrims flagged off from Rishikesh. The doors of Shri Hemkund Sahib will be opened for the devotees to visit at around 10:00 am on Saturday morning. The doors will be closed again on 10 October 2024.

Narinder Jit Singh Bindra, Chairman of the Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, met the governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) on Thursday and invited him for the Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra.

Around 6 inch snowfall recorded in Harsil on 02 Mar 2024. There has been snowfall in Harsil along with Char Dham in Uttarakhand and other high altitude. Though the Badrinath temple is closed for winters, the opening date of Badrinath has been announced.

Hemkund Sahib Opening and Closing Dates has been annouced for 2024. Hemkund Sahib will open on 25 May 2024 and closed on 10 Oct 2024.

Hemkund Sahib Opening and Closing Dates 2024 - Press Release

The Centre has granted in-principle approval for the construction of a 7.2 kms road linking Pulna to Bhyundar village in Chamoli district. Officials said the road, once completed, will shave off around 7 kms from the trekking route to the valley of flowers.

From Bhyndar Valley, one has to trek only 5 kms to reach Ghangaria (the base of of both Valley of Flowers Trek and Hemkund Sahib Trek) once the road is constructed.