Long before the Sikhs started frequenting Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib,the local inhabitants of that area held the lake there with great awe and reverence and called the area around it lokpal, i.e. sustainer of people. In spite of the fact that Hemkunt was mentioned in the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, its site remained in oblivion for well over two centuries. This happened in spite of indication of its location having been provided been provided in the guru's own account. It was the Si