Avoid
Hemkund Sahib in December
Uttarakhand, India
Closed.
Pilgrimage site completely snow-locked and inaccessible in winter months
Why December scores 1/5
Weather
Closed.
Roads & Access
self drive: Sedan fine in dry conditions. Paid parking at Govindghat.. road condition: NH-7 Rishikesh–Joshimath is well-paved but subject to landslide closures in monsoon. BRO maintains it actively.. public transport: GMVN and private buses Rishikesh–Joshimath–Govindghat daily.. from nearest city: Rishikesh to Govindghat 275km (10–11h). Govindghat to Ghangaria 14km trek or pony/helicopter. Ghangaria to Hemkund 6km steep trek.. last km difficulty: hard
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. note: AMS evacuation from Hemkund is via pony back to Ghangaria — plan conservatively. Helicopter evacuation possible from Govindghat in clear weather.. rescue: Chamoli district SDRF: 01372-251437.. helpline: 1363. ambulance: 108. nearest hospital: Community Health Centre Joshimath. Major cases go to AIIMS Rishikesh.
Network
VI: No, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Signal patchy at Ghangaria, none on the 6km climb to Hemkund.
Kids
Not ideal for kids —
Elevation
4,633m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Families with young children
- ✗Those prone to altitude sickness
- ✗Those with flexible dates — better months exist
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/5 | Shrine closed. Heavy snow. |
| February | 1/5 | Same. |
| March | 1/5 | Same. |
| April | 1/5 | Same — approach roads not cleared until late May. |
| May | 2/5 | Gurdwara typically opens at the end of May / first week of June. Snow still on trail. |
| June | 5/5 | Opening month. Pilgrim season starts. Valley of Flowers blooms building. |
| July | 5/5 | Peak pilgrimage + VoF bloom. Busy but beautiful. |
| August | 4/5 | Still prime. Monsoon rain affects walk up, occasional road closures on Rishikesh–Govindghat approach. |
| September | 4/5 | Pilgrimage season winds down. Cool, clear. Shrine typically closes late Sep / first week Oct. |
| October | 2/5 | Shrine closes after Durga Puja window. Snow returns. |
| November | 1/5 | Closed for winter. |
| Decemberviewing | 1/5 | Closed. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Rishikesh to Govindghat 275km (10–11h). Govindghat to Ghangaria 14km trek or pony/helicopter. Ghangaria to Hemkund 6km steep trek.. Roads: NH-7 Rishikesh–Joshimath is well-paved but subject to landslide closures in monsoon. BRO maintains it actively.. Self-drive: Sedan fine in dry conditions. Paid parking at Govindghat.. Public transport: GMVN and private buses Rishikesh–Joshimath–Govindghat daily.. Last stretch: hard
Elevation
4,633m
Difficulty
hard
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in December
- Access
- NH-7 Rishikesh–Joshimath is well-paved but subject to landslide closures in monsoon. BRO maintains it actively.
- Emergency
- 108 · Community Health Centre Joshimath. Major cases go to AIIMS Rishikesh.
- Stay
- ₹500–2,500/night · 50 options
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