Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib

In his autobiography, the Dasam Granth, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, described his previous life: "I performed deep meditation on the shores of a lake in the high mountains, surrounded by seven peaks, where I merged my consciousness with the Almighty."

For centuries, this passage was considered purely allegorical. Then, in the 1930s, a group of Sikh surveyors trekking through completely uncharted Himalayan terrain stumbled upon a glacial lake at 4,632 metres, surrounded by exactly seven mountain peaks. They knew immediately — this was the place described by Guru Gobind Singh. Hemkund — "the lake of snow."

The construction of a Gurudwara at this altitude is an engineering marvel in itself. Everything — every brick, every beam, every steel sheet — had to be carried up by human porters and mules along a narrow, treacherous 15-km mountain path. The star-shaped design was specifically engineered to handle extreme wind loads and the weight of 30 feet of winter snow.

The shrine is accessible for only a brief window — from May to October. During winter, the entire area is buried under massive snow. Yet every summer, over 100,000 devotees make the demanding trek — climbing from 3,050 metres to 4,632 metres in a single day. Many are elderly, some are disabled, but the faith that drives them conquers mountains. The crystal-clear glacial lake beside the Gurudwara, reflecting the surrounding peaks, creates one of the most sublime spiritual landscapes on earth.

Described in Guru Gobind Singh's Dasam Granth. Rediscovered in the 1930s. The highest Sikh Gurudwara in the world at 4,632 metres.

Open only from May to October. Over 100,000 devotees make the 15-km mountain trek each summer season.

Star-shaped structure engineered to withstand 200 km/h winds and 30 feet of snow. Sits beside the pristine Hemkund glacial lake surrounded by seven peaks.