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Hemkund
Sahib
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| Location
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19 km.
from Govind Ghat. |
| Altitude
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4329
meter Above Sea Level. |
| Base : |
Govind
Ghat |
| Season
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May
to September. |
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The
high altitude Lokpal lake, known as Hemkund ( 4329 mts.)
lies in heavenly environs. A steep trek from Ghangharia
leads one to this spot in about four to six hours. It is
an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well
as for people from other faiths. here is a Sikh Gurudwara
and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake. Encircled
by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers,
it reflects its surroundings enchantingly on its crystal
clear serene waters. |
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The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and
Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called
Himganga flows out of this lake. As alluded to, in the holy
Granth Sahib, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikh
faith had meditated on the bank of this lake in one of his
earlier births.
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It is widely believed among Sikhs that Guru Govind Singh
introduced the features now universally associated with
Sikhism. On 15th April 1699, he started the new brotherhood
called the Khalsa (meaning the pure, from the Persian word
'Khales') an inner core of the faithful, accepted by baptism
(amrit). The five K's' date from this period: kesh (uncut
hair) kangha (comb), kirpan (dagger or short sword), kara
(steel bangle), and kachh (boxer shorts). The most
important is the uncut hair, adopted before the other
four. The comb is sometime designated
specially as wooden. The dagger and the shorts reflect
military influence, while the bangle may be a from of charm.
It is believed that Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram,
meditated by the lake and regained his health after being
severely wounded by Meghnath, son of the demon Ravana,
during battle. |
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Despite
its ancient connections, Hemkund/Lokpal was discovered by
a Sikh Havaldar, Solan Singh and became a major pilgrimage
centre only after 1930.
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Trekking
information about Hemkund & Valley of Flower
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