Hemkunt Sahib

A journey on foot from Delhi to Hemkunt, a distance of 500 km was the inspiration for, and the genesis of, this research on Hemkunt Sahib. With 8 pages of color photographs and V&W sketches and maps, this book is a valuable read. Many of the gurudwaras associated with Guru Gobind Singh are situated in very picturesque hilly surroundings. Hemkunt Sahib literally towers above them all for it is located in the Himalayas at a height of 15,200 ft above sea level. This work traces the history of Hemkunt Sahib from the time it was first mentioned by Guru Gobind Singh in the autobiographical section Bachitar Natak in Dasam Granth. Following that lead Pandit Tara Har Narotam first identified it in 1884 and wrote about it in Gur Tirath Sangrah including a sketch map of the route.  Bhai Vir Singh’s poetic account Kalgidhar Chamatkar inspired Sant Sohan Singh to undertake the journey. He identified the spot positively in 1934 and the first Gurudwara measuring 10ft x 10ft was built in 1935. Hemkunt Sahib is believed to be connected to a previous birth of the tenth Guru and today millions of devotees make the arduous journey to pay homage. Many take the opportunity to also visit the Valley of Flowers nearby and the holy shrine of Badrinath.