Hemkund Sahib in April
Uttarakhand, India
Snow blocks the approach roads until late May, making April access impossible
April at Hemkund Sahib is the pre-season preparation month with key booking dates. Daytime at the shrine peaks at -3C, nights -15C; at Ghangaria base camp daytime 5-8C, nights -5 to -8C. The Indian Army Sashastra Seema Bal and Gurdwara Trust snow-clearance crews push hard on the Govindghat-Pulna-Ghangaria-Hemkund stretch through April; the trail is typically declared safe for civilian travel by mid-late May. The defining April date for yatris: helicopter ticket bookings open April 15 at 6pm at heliyatra.irctc.co.in (the IRCTC HeliYatra portal). The Pawan Hans helicopter from Govindghat helibase to Ghangaria runs at ₹10,080 per person round-trip (2026 declared rate); a convenience fee of ₹300 + 18 percent GST per round-trip is added by IRCTC. Bookings cover the May 22-June 15 window first, with rolling release through to the season's close on October 10. Chardham + Hemkund Sahib Yatra Registration is mandatory at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in before booking helicopter or making the trek. April travellers cannot reach the shrine.
Why April scores 2.0/10
Weather
Snow clearance underway. -15C nights at shrine. Yatra opens late May, helicopter bookings open Apr 15. Skip.
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Families with young children
- ✗all visitors
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2.0/10 | Closed for winter. Shrine snowbound. Ghangaria buried. -25C nights at Hemkund. Skip. |
| February | 2.0/10 | Closed. -28C nights at the shrine. Pre-yatra. Snow clearance not yet started. Skip. |
| March | 2.0/10 | Snow clearance starting. -22C nights. Yatra still 8-10 weeks from open. Skip. |
| Aprilviewing | 2.0/10 | Snow clearance underway. -15C nights at shrine. Yatra opens late May, helicopter bookings open Apr 15. Skip. |
| May | 8.0/10 | Yatra opens May 25, 2026. -2 to 12C at shrine. Helicopter operating from helibase. First-week pilgrim surge. |
| June | 10.0/10 | Peak. 0-15C at shrine, dry. Pilgrim flow steady. Valley of Flowers opens, sister-trek combo. |
| July | 8.0/10 | Monsoon arrives. 4-18C. Heavy rain risk. Helicopter weather cancellations 30-40 percent. Valley of Flowers in bloom. |
| August | 8.0/10 | Monsoon continues. 4-18C. Independence Day pilgrim surge. Valley of Flowers tail. |
| September | 10.0/10 | Monsoon retreating. 2-15C at shrine, dry late month. Cleanest post-monsoon clarity. Helicopter reliable. |
| October | 8.0/10 | Yatra closes Oct 10, 2026. -5 to 12C. Final 10 days, autumn colour. Cold but clear. |
| November | 2.0/10 | Closed. Shrine kapaat shut since Oct 10. Ghangaria empty. -15C nights at shrine. Skip. |
| December | 2.0/10 | Deep winter. -22C nights at shrine. Snowbound. Skip. |
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in April
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