How to Reach Hemkund Sahib from Rishikesh: Distance, Bus & Trek

The short answer: Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib is about 273 km by road to Govindghat (roughly 277 km to Pulna, where vehicles now stop), followed by a trek of about 19 km — around 13 km to Ghangaria, then 6 km steeply up to the gurudwara. That's roughly 290 km in all, and most pilgrims take three days to reach the gurudwara: one on the road, one trekking to Ghangaria, and the climb on the third morning.

ऋषिकेश से हेमकुंड साहिब की दूरी सड़क से गोविंदघाट तक लगभग 273 किमी है, फिर घांघरिया होते हुए लगभग 19 किमी पैदल ट्रेक — कुल मिलाकर लगभग 290 किमी।

Hemkund Sahib is one of the highest gurudwaras in the world, set beside a glacial lake at around 4,329 m in the Chamoli district, and the journey there shares its first leg with our Badrinath route before splitting off entirely on foot. It's a genuinely demanding trip, and also one of the more spiritually significant ones in this part of the Himalaya for both Sikh and Hindu pilgrims.

Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib distance, leg by leg

Road distances are rounded and shift by a few kilometres with highway realignment and landslide diversions; the trek distances are the commonly signposted ones. Elevation climbs from about 340 m in Rishikesh to 1,800 m at Govindghat, about 3,050 m at Ghangaria and 4,329 m at the lake.

The significance

The site is associated with Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, who according to the account in the Dasam Granth meditated here in a previous life. Alongside the gurudwara stands a temple to Lakshman, and the combination of the two — Sikh and Hindu pilgrimage sharing one remote mountain lake — is part of what makes the site distinctive. Pilgrims of both traditions make the journey, and it's common to see both a gurudwara langar and Hindu ritual practice happening within sight of each other at the lake.

Stage one: Rishikesh to Govindghat

Govindghat sits on the Badrinath road, roughly 273 km from Rishikesh via Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli and Joshimath — the same route our Chardham and Do Dham tours take toward Badrinath. See our Badrinath route guide for the detail on this stretch, since it's identical up to Joshimath.

By bike or car this is comfortably a full day — 10–11 hours of mountain road — and most people break the journey with an overnight around Joshimath or Pipalkoti rather than pushing through in one go — arriving at Govindghat tired before you've even started the trek is a poor way to begin what's already a demanding two-stage climb.

Riding it yourself: the Badrinath highway is tarmac nearly all the way, with a few slow patches around Joshimath. You can rent a bike in Rishikesh with papers valid across Uttarakhand — see our bike on rent for Badrinath page for which bike suits this road, and the rental price list for current rates. Bikes are parked at Govindghat while you trek.

Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib by bus

There's no bus to Hemkund Sahib itself — the gurudwara is only reachable on foot — but buses run from Rishikesh to Govindghat every morning during the yatra season.

• Where from: GMOU and Uttarakhand Roadways buses toward Joshimath and Badrinath leave from the Rishikesh bus stand. Ask for Govindghat — buses heading to Badrinath stop there; Joshimath buses leave you 18 km short, with shared jeeps onward.
• When: early, mostly between about 4:00 and 7:00 am. In peak season (June especially) extra buses run, and the Hemkunt Sahib gurudwara in Rishikesh — the traditional starting point for the yatra — is a good place to ask about departures.
• How long: 11–12 hours by bus, so you'll arrive at Govindghat in the evening and start the trek the next morning.
• Fare: roughly ₹550–700 per person to Govindghat or Joshimath. Fares are revised from time to time, so confirm at the counter.

By taxi: shared taxis to Joshimath leave from the same area and are a few hours quicker. A private taxi to Govindghat runs in the region of ₹7,000–10,000 one way depending on vehicle and season.

By train or air: the nearest railhead is Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) station, and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, about 20–25 km from Rishikesh. Everything beyond that is by road.

Stage two: Govindghat to Ghangaria

From Govindghat, the trek begins — around 13–14 km to Ghangaria, the small settlement that acts as the base for both Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. A motorable road now runs as far as Pulna, a few kilometres short of Govindghat's old starting point, which shortens the walk considerably — shared taxis and jeeps cover that stretch, leaving a shorter trek from Pulna to Ghangaria. Mules, porters and palkis are all available along this stretch for those who'd rather not carry a full pack or walk the whole distance themselves. Most people stay overnight in Ghangaria before continuing, and it's worth planning for that overnight rather than trying to reach Hemkund Sahib and return in a single push from Govindghat.

Stage three: Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib

A further 6 km, and this is the steep part — a genuine high-altitude climb gaining well over 1,300 m from Ghangaria. It's a demanding half-day out and back, made harder by the altitude itself rather than technical difficulty — the path is clear and well-used, but the combination of steepness and thin air at the top makes this a genuinely tiring climb even for fit trekkers. Ponies and palkis are available for this stretch too, and are a reasonable choice given how much of the difficulty here is altitude rather than terrain.

What's at the top

The lake itself sits in a genuinely spectacular glacial cirque, ringed by seven peaks that give the site its name (Hem Kund, "lake of snow"), with the gurudwara and the smaller Lakshman temple right at the water's edge. The setting is stark and beautiful rather than lush — this is well above the treeline, and the scale of the surrounding peaks is part of what makes the site feel genuinely remote despite the relatively short trek. Most pilgrims spend an hour or two at the top before beginning the descent, since the weather at this altitude can close in quickly.

Season

Hemkund Sahib has a short window — the gurudwara typically opens in late May and closes in early October (in 2026, the season ran from 25 May to 10 October), considerably shorter than the Chardham season, because of how much snow the site holds at this altitude even in summer. Outside this window the route is simply inaccessible — not just difficult, genuinely closed — so this is one trip where the calendar isn't flexible.

Altitude

At 4,329 m, this is genuine high-altitude trekking, and it deserves the same respect as our higher tour routes — see our altitude sickness guide. Go slowly on the Ghangaria–Hemkund stretch in particular, and don't push through symptoms that aren't clearing. The jump from Ghangaria (around 3,000 m) to Hemkund Sahib (4,329 m) in a single day's climb is a meaningful altitude gain, and it's worth taking genuinely seriously even if you feel strong at the start.

What to pack

Warm layers regardless of season — this is snow country even in July — sturdy footwear with real grip for the steep sections, sun protection, and enough water and snacks for a long half-day out. See our general Himalayan packing list for the broader kit list, and add trekking poles if you have them, since they genuinely help on the steep Ghangaria–Hemkund stretch.

Combining it with Valley of Flowers

Since both treks share the Govindghat–Ghangaria approach, most visitors do both in the same trip — Hemkund Sahib on one day, the Valley of Flowers National Park on another, using Ghangaria as a base for both. See our Valley of Flowers guide for the bloom season and what that trek involves, and plan for at least three days total (one for the approach, one for each destination) rather than trying to compress both into a single rushed visit.

Doing this as part of a bike trip

This trek isn't currently part of our standard tour itineraries, but Govindghat sits directly on our Badrinath route, so riders already booked on Chardham or Do Dham with an extra two or three days to spare are well placed to add it, since the riding logistics up to Govindghat are already identical to what those tours do. Message us if you'd like to talk through extending your itinerary to include it.

Spending a day or two in Rishikesh before or after? A morning of river rafting on the Ganga or a scooty for the local ghats are the usual ways pilgrims fill the time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the distance from Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib?

About 273 km by road from Rishikesh to Govindghat, then a trek of roughly 19 km via Ghangaria (after a 4 km shared-taxi hop to Pulna). In total it's around 290 km.

How many days does it take to reach Hemkund Sahib from Rishikesh?

Plan three days to reach the gurudwara: Rishikesh to Govindghat on day one, the trek to Ghangaria on day two, and the climb to Hemkund Sahib on day three. Allow five to six days for the round trip, more if you add the Valley of Flowers.

Is there a bus from Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib?

Buses run from the Rishikesh bus stand to Govindghat and Joshimath every morning in season, leaving between about 4:00 and 7:00 am, at roughly ₹550–700 per person. From Govindghat the rest of the way is on foot or by pony to Ghangaria.

How far is Hemkund Sahib from Ghangaria?

About 6 km, climbing roughly 1,300 m — the steepest and hardest part of the trek. Most people take three to five hours up and leave the lake by early afternoon.

When is Hemkund Sahib open?

The gurudwara opens in late May and closes in early October. In 2026 the season ran from 25 May to 10 October. Outside that window the route is closed by snow.

Can I ride a bike from Rishikesh to Hemkund Sahib?

Yes, as far as Govindghat on the Badrinath highway. Bikes stay parked there while you trek, since no vehicles are allowed beyond Pulna.