📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harshit SR
Religion
Hemkund Sahib Temple Shuts for Winter as Snowfall Intensifies in Uttarakhand
✍️ Dainik Bhaskar
🗓 10 Oct 2026, 06:47 PM
👁 19
The revered Sikh shrine Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand has been closed for the winter season due to heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) announced that Hemkund Sahib, the high‑altitude Sikh pilgrimage site in Chamoli district, will remain closed for the winter months. The decision comes after continuous snowfall and sub‑zero temperatures made the trek to the shrine unsafe for pilgrims and staff.
Authorities have advised devotees to postpone their visits until the snow recedes, typically around late April or early May. Temporary shelters at Govindghat and Ghangaria will continue to operate, offering basic amenities for those already in the region.
The closure affects thousands of pilgrims who usually undertake the arduous 20‑kilometre climb during the summer season. SGPC officials said they will monitor weather conditions closely and issue a formal reopening notice once the routes are deemed safe.
Local tourism operators have been instructed to halt guided treks to the shrine until the official reopening, aiming to prevent accidents in the treacherous terrain.
The move underscores the challenges posed by climate‑driven weather patterns in the Himalayas and the need for safety‑first policies at remote religious sites.
Authorities have advised devotees to postpone their visits until the snow recedes, typically around late April or early May. Temporary shelters at Govindghat and Ghangaria will continue to operate, offering basic amenities for those already in the region.
The closure affects thousands of pilgrims who usually undertake the arduous 20‑kilometre climb during the summer season. SGPC officials said they will monitor weather conditions closely and issue a formal reopening notice once the routes are deemed safe.
Local tourism operators have been instructed to halt guided treks to the shrine until the official reopening, aiming to prevent accidents in the treacherous terrain.
The move underscores the challenges posed by climate‑driven weather patterns in the Himalayas and the need for safety‑first policies at remote religious sites.