Route library · Outstation · Mountains
Delhi to Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund Sahib sits at about 4,329 m, a glacial lake ringed by seven jagged peaks, reached by riding to Govindghat and then a steep 19-km trek on foot (or pony) via Ghangaria — the same base camp used for the Valley of Flowers. It is genuinely high altitude, genuinely demanding, and one of the highest gurudwaras in the world.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 990–1,060 km
- Riding time
- 13–14 hours of riding to Govindghat, split over two days
- Nights
- Three nights minimum — one riding up, one at Ghangaria before the trek, one coming back down
- Start point
- Delhi (via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Joshimath)
- Highest point
- About 4,329 m at Hemkund Sahib itself; Ghangaria base camp is at about 3,050 m
- Difficulty
- Expedition-grade. The ride is manageable; the trek from Govindghat to Hemkund via Ghangaria is the real challenge — 19 km on foot, gaining serious altitude.
- Surface
- Sealed to Govindghat, in variable gorge-road condition; from there it is a walking trail only, no vehicles
- Best season
- June to September, matching the trek's open season and the flowering window for the neighbouring Valley of Flowers.
The ride
The ride follows the Joshimath route: Delhi → Rishikesh → Rudraprayag → Joshimath, then a short run on to Govindghat, where the road ends and the trek begins. Park the bike, and walk or take a pony the 13 km to Ghangaria, the shared base for Hemkund and the Valley of Flowers.
From Ghangaria it is a further 6 km, steep and often on stone steps, up to Hemkund Sahib — budget a full day for the round trip and start early, since weather closes in fast above the tree line. Most riders combine this with a day at the Valley of Flowers, since the trailhead is the same.
Day by day
Delhi to Rudraprayag
Delhi → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Rudraprayag (7–8 hours). An easier first day.
Rudraprayag to Govindghat
Rudraprayag → Joshimath → Govindghat (6–7 hours). Park the bike and walk or pony to Ghangaria (13 km), and rest.
The Hemkund Sahib trek
Ghangaria → Hemkund Sahib and back (12 km round trip, steep). A full, demanding day — start at first light.
Govindghat to Delhi
Retrace via Joshimath and Rudraprayag over two days.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is reliable to Joshimath — every town on the way up has a pump.
- Top up fully at Joshimath; Govindghat's supply can be stretched during the peak yatra season.
- Ghangaria has basic pilgrim-trekker guesthouses only — no vehicles beyond Govindghat, so carry what you need for the trek days.
Road & conditions
The ride to Govindghat follows the same variable Alaknanda gorge road as the Joshimath route — sealed but with landslide-prone stretches, especially after monsoon repairs. Beyond Govindghat there is no vehicle road at all; the trek to Ghangaria and on to Hemkund is on a maintained but steep mountain trail, busy with pilgrims, ponies and porters in season.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Better on a torquey 250cc+ — the gradients and altitude reward it.
- Fuel gap
- Longest dry stretch is short — a normal tank covers it with margin.
- Spare fuel
- None needed for the ride itself.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is a full day back down the valley; signal is unreliable beyond Joshimath and absent on the trek; carry the group lead's number, a printed emergency card and be realistic about fitness for the altitude gain.
Best time to ride
June to September is the only realistic window — the trek route is snow-bound outside these months and the gurudwara itself operates on this same season. July–August coincides with the Valley of Flowers bloom but also the wettest, most landslide-prone weeks on the gorge road; late June and September offer a reasonable trade-off between flowers and drier riding.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: full trekking gear — proper boots, layers for sudden weather changes, rain protection, and a walking stick. This route is genuinely as much a trek as a ride, and altitude sickness is a real risk above Ghangaria; ascend at a sensible pace.
Ride this with a group
We run Hemkund Sahib as a genuine expedition — three nights, with the trek itself treated as a full dedicated day, often paired with the Valley of Flowers.