|
Home
|
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
North
India |
South India
|
West India
|
East
India |
Central India
|Site Map
|
Email
Home
> North India
> Punjab Tours
> Paonta Sahib
Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib :
Set
amidst towering snow-capped mountains and lying beside a lake of pristine
blue water, the Sikh
shrine of Sri Hemkunt Sahib looks, even to the not-particularly-pious, a
place of almost unbelievable beauty and peace. Seven peaks - known as the
Sapt Sring- surround the shrine, looming over lush green pastures. The
lake’s rocky shores are covered with snow through most of the year, but when
the snows melt, the almost mythical yellow-green flower known as the Brahma
Kamal, the `Lotus of the Gods’, blooms amidst the rocks. It’s a place of a
rather wild and untamed beauty- and one of Sikhism’s most important
shrines.
The tenth and penultimate guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh ji, meditated
for years in these mountains, finally leaving his earthly form and uniting
with the Almighty. The star-shaped Gurudwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib, at a height
of over 4,000 mt, is as such, a memorial to Guru Gobind Singh ji and a
reminder of the saint’s mission.
Every year, during the summer months, thousands of Sikh devotees from across
India and overseas complete the arduous trek up to Sri Hemkunt Sahib. As a
daily ritual, two congregational services are held, one at 10 am and the
other at 1 pm. Kirtan (hymns), ardas (prayer) and the daily hukamnama (the
verse which appears at the top of the page of the Guru Granth Sahib ji, when
randomly opened by the granthi, and understood as God’s commandment for the
day) are integral parts of the service. Pilgrims to the shrine join in,
after having taken a dip in the holy waters of the lake. The water of the
lake- known as Amrit Sarovar- is ice cold, but doesn’t daunt the devout.
Much of the Sarovar, in fact, remains frozen till mid June.
Sri Hemkunt Sahib is accessible only in the summer, between June and
October. The rest of the year, heavy snows make passage impossible, and
usually block off the trail leading up to the shrine.
Gurudwara Sri Paonta Sahib : Surrounded by the Sal forest and on the
bank of river Yamuna the historic town of Paonta Sahib was founded by the
tenth Sikh Guru Govind Singh Ji. When only sixteen years old, the guru left
Anandpur Sahib and on the invitation of Raja Maidini Prakash of Sirmour,
lived at this beautiful place for over four years. The historic gurudwara
commemorates his stay and interestingly the waters of the Yamuna
fall silently below this -which happened at the Guru's behest. The word 'Paonta'
means 'Space for a foot hold'.
DELHI - HEMKUND SAHIB - PAONTA SAHIB - DELHI
Day 1. Delhi - Rishikesh (Drive 225 km)
Day 2. Rishikesh - Joshimath (Drive 257 km)
Day 3. Joshimath - Govind Ghat - Govind Dham(ghangharia) (Drive 21 km, Trek
13 km )
Day 4. Govind Dham - Hemkund Sahib - Govind Dham (Ghangharia Trek (12 km)
Day 5. Govind Dham - Govind Ghat - Joshimath (Trek 13 km, Drive 21 km)
Day 6. Joshimath - Rishikesh (Drive 257 km)
Day 7. Rishikesh - Paonta Sahib (Drive 90 km)
Day 8. Paonta Sahib - Delhi (Drive 240 km)
|
India
Travel Guide/Goa Hotels