Uttarakhand: Preparations for Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra 2026 Continue on a War Footing Amidst Snowfall
Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra 2026: Preparations for the holy pilgrimage to Gurdwara Shri Hemkund Sahib—a sacred Sikh shrine situated amidst the snow-capped high mountain ranges of Uttarakhand—which is scheduled to commence on May 23, are proceeding on a war footing.
The portals of Shri Hemkund Sahib for the 2026 pilgrimage will open for darshan on May 23, 2026, and the first batch of pilgrims will depart from Rishikesh on May 20. This pilgrimage will continue until mid-October. Devotees can complete their mandatory online registration via the website touristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile app.
To ensure the successful conduct of the pilgrimage, the Indian Army, the Chamoli District Police, and the Gurdwara Management Committee jointly conducted an inspection tour from Govind Ghat to the Darbar Sahib on Tuesday, braving the ongoing snowfall.
Thorough on-site inspection of the entire pilgrimage route conducted
Prioritizing the comfort and safety of the hundreds of thousands of devotees arriving from across the country and abroad for the world-renowned Shri Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage, the Chamoli Police on Tuesday conducted a thorough on-site inspection of the entire pilgrimage route, in collaboration with the Indian Army and the Ghangharia Gurdwara Management Committee.
During this inspection, attention was first focused on the parking arrangements at Pulna village—the furthest point accessible by vehicles—to ensure the smooth flow of traffic throughout the pilgrimage period. Subsequently, the police outposts located along the route at Bhyundar and Ghangharia were inspected, and the operational arrangements at these locations were evaluated in detail.
It is noteworthy that these outposts remain closed during the winter months. Consequently, a meticulous inspection was conducted to verify the necessary arrangements and resources required to reactivate these outposts prior to the commencement of the pilgrimage.
Route to the Valley of Flowers also passes through the same corridor
The route to the world-famous "Valley of Flowers"—which witnesses a heavy influx of tourists during the tourism season—also passes through this same corridor. Anticipating the likely opening of the Valley of Flowers in the near future, the authorities conducted a preliminary assessment of the required arrangements and placed special emphasis on undertaking the necessary preparatory measures.
Soldiers working tirelessly to cut through the snow
Currently, the stretch of the route extending from Atlakoti to Shri Hemkund Sahib remains blanketed under heavy snow. The valiant soldiers of the Indian Army are working tirelessly to cut through the snow and carve out a path. Members of the Police, the Army, and the Gurdwara Committee jointly traversed the snow-clearing route to reach the Gurdwara, where they conducted a comprehensive review of the pilgrimage-related arrangements within the Darbar Sahib complex.
During this time, Sardar Seva Singh (Chief Manager of the Govindghat Gurudwara), Inspector-in-Charge Chitragupta (Govindghat), Sub-Inspector Amandeep Singh, and Army personnel were present.