Hemkund Sahib in November
Uttarakhand, India
Snow blocks the mountain pass and shrine facilities shut down completely
November at Hemkund Sahib is the winter shutdown. The shrine kapaat have been closed since October 10 and stay closed until next May. Daytime at the shrine peaks at 0C, nights -15C, snow accumulating on the lake basin and the upper trek. Ghangaria gurdwara dharamshala, GMVN tents, and private lodges are all closed for the season. Helicopter operations from Govindghat-Ghangaria suspended. The 14km Govindghat-Ghangaria trek route is impassable to civilian travel from mid-November onwards. Govindghat itself remains reachable from Joshimath but the village functions in post-season mode. The next yatra opens late May (the 2027 dates will be announced by the Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust in early March 2027).
Why November scores 2.0/10
Weather
Closed. Shrine kapaat shut since Oct 10. Ghangaria empty. -15C nights at shrine. 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. |
| April | 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. |
| Novemberviewing | 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 November
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