Snow Arrives at Hemkund Sahib, Himalayan Shrine Turns White

Dehradun, September 26, 2026 A fresh layer of snow has changed the landscape around Sri Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, offering an early glimpse of winter in the higher reaches of the Himalayas. The revered Sikh pilgrimage site received its first snowfall of the season, covering the shrine and surrounding terrain in white as fog settled across the mountains. A video from Hemkund Sahib captured the Gurudwara amid wintry conditions, with snow covering its exterior and dense mist reducing visibility around the site. Perched more than 15,000 feet above sea level, the shrine remains one of the prominent high-altitude pilgrimage destinations, attracting thousands of devotees from across the world. The religious significance of Hemkund Sahib extends beyond its dramatic Himalayan location. Regarded as the fifth Dham of Uttarakhand, the Gurudwara stands beside a glacial lake that forms an integral part of the pilgrimage. The site is traditionally associated with Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, who is believed to have meditated here. Its name, ‘Hemkunt’, meaning ‘lake of snow’, closely reflects the geography of the sacred site. Pilgrims traditionally take a holy dip in the lake, while seven snow-clad mountain peaks form a natural backdrop around the shrine. Hathi Parvat and the Saptrishi peaks are among the prominent peaks surrounding the area. The first snowfall has now brought Hemkund Sahib’s snow-covered Himalayan setting back into focus. With the Gurudwara, glacial lake and surrounding peaks wrapped in wintry conditions, the changing landscape signals the arrival of colder weather in Uttarakhand’s high-altitude region.