Hemkund Sahib is a Sikh pilgrimage site at about 4,000 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. A glacial lake surrounded by seven peaks, with a Gurudwara and a small Lakshman temple on its shore, it is one of the highest places of worship in the world. The setting is extraordinary — stark mountain walls, cold clear water, and beds of Brahma Kamal, a rare lotus-like flower that grows only at these altitudes.
The site is reached by a steep 6 km trek from Ghangaria (also known as Govind Dham), which is itself a 14 km walk from Govindghat on the main road. The trail is open only from June to October, when the snow has melted enough to allow passage. It is a demanding walk but the landscape rewards the effort. The nearby Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can also be reached from Ghangaria.