📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harshit SR
Religion
Hemkund Sahib Shuts for Winter After Record-Breaking Pilgrimage Turnout
✍️ Pioneer Edge
🗓 10 Oct 2026, 06:47 PM
👁 20
The sacred Sikh shrine at Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand has been closed for the winter season following an unprecedented number of pilgrims this year.
Hemkund Sahib, the high‑altitude Sikh pilgrimage site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, announced its winter closure after the annual pilgrimage season concluded. Officials cited the arrival of harsh weather conditions typical of the Himalayan winter as the primary reason for shutting the shrine to visitors.
The decision came on the back of a record-breaking turnout, with devotees reporting that this year's pilgrimage attracted more worshippers than any previous year. The surge in numbers underscored the growing popularity of the sacred trek among Sikhs and spiritual tourists alike.
Authorities have urged pilgrims to plan future visits for the upcoming summer window, when the shrine reopens and the trekking routes become safe again. Security and maintenance teams will use the off‑season to conduct repairs and preserve the fragile environment surrounding the holy lake.
The closure aligns with long‑standing practice at high‑altitude shrines, where winter access is restricted to protect both pilgrims and the delicate ecosystem.
The decision came on the back of a record-breaking turnout, with devotees reporting that this year's pilgrimage attracted more worshippers than any previous year. The surge in numbers underscored the growing popularity of the sacred trek among Sikhs and spiritual tourists alike.
Authorities have urged pilgrims to plan future visits for the upcoming summer window, when the shrine reopens and the trekking routes become safe again. Security and maintenance teams will use the off‑season to conduct repairs and preserve the fragile environment surrounding the holy lake.
The closure aligns with long‑standing practice at high‑altitude shrines, where winter access is restricted to protect both pilgrims and the delicate ecosystem.