When you reach Hemkund Sahib, tea is avaialble all the time in the gurudwara. If you plan to bathe in the lake, do it before taking tea, before your body has had time to cool off from the climb. Men bathe in the lake itself. A separate bathing room for women has been built inside the lower storey of the gurudwara. If you can, change to dry clothes after your bath so that you will not feel as cold.
There are facilities for checking your shoes before you enter the inner sanctum of the gudwara. Remove them on the lower storey, cover your head, and climb the cement steps to the upper storey.
The Guru Granth Sahib is enshrined under a beautiful brass canopy. A number of blankets are available for people to use while they are inside the gurudwara.
Donations commonly made at Hemkund Sahib include rumalas (beautiful cloths used to cover the holy book), ghee (clarified butter for making parshad), dried fruits and nuts, silk flowers, brass ornaments, and blankets. Ardas is said at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Kirtan continues throughout the day. Langar of tea & Khichri is served at the conclusion of each Ardas.
Nearby tea shops sell food and cold drinks. Other vendors sell water bottles, malas and simarnas (bead rosaries), and patkas (cloth head coverings).
Staying overnight at the gurudwara is not permitted.
The weather conditions at Hemkund are unpredictable and path conditions are uncertain. It is advisable to begin the descent back to Gobind Dham as early as possible. The descent takes an hour or more, averaging two hours. Budget for more time than that to allow for rests and difficult trail conditions. Sunset throughout the season is at around 6 p.m.
Make certain you allow enough time to make it back to Gobind Dham before dark.
