Hemkund Sahib Yatra Creates History; For the First Time, 2.78 Lakh Pilgrims Offer Darshan in 93 Days

For the first time, the highest number of pilgrims had visited in the year 2025, with 2,74,441 devotees offering darshan during the entire season. This year, the number of pilgrims may cross four lakh, with one and a half months still remaining before the doors close.

Dehradun, 25 August 2026: A record number of pilgrims are visiting Hemkund Sahib and Lokpal Lakshman Temple this year. So far, 2,78,345 pilgrims have paid obeisance at Hemkund Sahib, which is the highest number of visitors in the history of the Hemkund Yatra. In the year 2025, 2,74,441 pilgrims had visited Hemkund Sahib during the entire season.

The yatra to Hemkund Sahib and Lokpal Lakshman Temple, situated at an altitude of 15,225 feet above sea level in the Hemkund Sahib and Lokpal Lakshman Temple of Chamoli district, is considered extremely difficult. To reach here, one has to cover a distance of 16 km on foot from Pulna. Usually, there is a sharp decline in the number of pilgrims during the monsoon season, but this time, despite continuous rainfall, more than one thousand pilgrims are reaching Hemkund Sahib every day. Langar arrangements have been made by the Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust along the yatra route as well as at the base camp. In addition, hotels and dhabas are available at various places along the footpath. As a result, pilgrims are not facing any kind of difficulty.

Sardar Sewa Singh, CEO of the Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, informed that 24-hour langar and accommodation facilities are available for devotees at Hemkund Sahib, base camp Ghangharia, and Govindghat. In addition, horse-mule and dandi-kandi facilities are also available for the pilgrims. It may be noted that the doors of Hemkund Sahib were opened this year on 23 May, while those of Lokpal Lakshman Temple were opened on 22 May, and as per tradition, the doors of both shrines will be closed on the upcoming 10 October.

Colourful Flowers on the Footpath Become the Centre of Attraction

These days, in the six-km stretch from Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib, colourful Himalayan flowers of various species, including Brahma Kamal, Phen Kamal, and Blue Poppy, are in full bloom. With their enchanting beauty, they are greatly attracting the devotees. The natural beauty of the shrine amidst the clouds is also captivating. Pilgrims say that there was some apprehension about the yatra in this weather, but the kind of facilities available on the footpath are ensuring that they face no difficulty.