Sri Hemkund Sahib Sacred Yatra: Rishikesh Loop
Package Inclusions
Overview
Tour Itinerary
Assemble by 6:00 AM at the designated SkyGlobals meeting point in Rishikesh or Haridwar. Travel along the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07), tracing the Alaknanda River upstream. Stop en route to view the sacred river confluences: Devprayag (Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda to form the Ganga), Rudraprayag (Alaknanda meets Mandakini), and Karnaprayag (Alaknanda meets Pindar). Pass through Chamoli and Joshimath before descending into the valley hub of Govindghat (5,997 ft). Check into your hotel, verify your Char Dham / Hemkund biometric passes, attend an evening briefing on altitude safety, and rest. Overnight stay in Govindghat.
After an early breakfast, take a short 15-minute shared taxi ride to Pulna village (6,560 ft), the official motorable roadhead.
The Trail: Begin the gradual 10 km stone-paved climb alongside the roaring Laxman Ganga river, walking beneath shady pine and rhododendron canopies. The path is equipped with railings, water points, and dhabas.
Transit Options: Seniors or pilgrims avoiding the physical trek can hire government-registered ponies, palkis (sedan chairs), or pitthu baskets at Pulna. (A commercial passenger helicopter shuttle also operates directly from the Govindghat helipad to Ghangaria, subject to weather clearance).
Arrive at the base camp village of Ghangaria (9,800 ft) by afternoon. Check into your hotel or guesthouse, hydrate with warm ginger tea, and spend a quiet evening acclimatizing. Overnight stay in Ghangaria.
The Ascents: Begin your steep 6 km climb by 5:30 AM. Tackle continuous stone-paved switchbacks rising over 4,300 vertical feet above the tree line. The air thins noticeably past the midpoint at 12,000 ft, where rare Himalayan Brahma Kamal flowers bloom along the crags.
The Holy Shrine (14,107 ft): Reach the ridge framing the pristine, emerald Hemkund Sarovar, surrounded by seven snow-clad mountain peaks. Pilgrims may take a holy dip in the cold waters of the sarovar before entering the star-shaped Gurudwara for morning prayers (Ardas). Warm up inside the Langar hall with hot tea and khichdi. Visit the adjacent ancient Lakshman Mandir.
Descent: As mandated by shrine authorities, all pilgrims must begin descending by 1:30 PM to avoid freezing mist and altitude sickness. Return to Ghangaria by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
After breakfast, begin the comfortable 10 km downhill trek back to Pulna village. Board your waiting private vehicles and transfer up to the historic town of Joshimath (6,150 ft). Check into your hotel and enjoy hot showers. In the afternoon, visit the 8th-century Adi Shankaracharya Math (Jyotirmath) and the historic Kalpavriksha tree, or take a short excursion to explore the mountain markets. Dinner and overnight stay in Joshimath.
Depart early after breakfast for the descent down the Alaknanda valley. Stop for lunch at Srinagar or Kaudiyala along the riverbank. Arrive in Rishikesh / Haridwar by 6:00 PM, with direct drop-offs at Haridwar Railway Station or Dehradun Airport (DED) for onward travel.
