Amarnath Yatra Tour - Book Now
One of the famous Himalayan abodes of Lord Shiva, Amarnath cave is flocked by a large number of devotees every year to pay their homage from far away places. The cave is located in a narrow gorge at the end of Lidder valley around 45 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar.There are many legends and mythological stories about this pilgrimage place. It is said to be around 5,000 years old. According to a legend, Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of immortality to his wife Parvati at this place and because of this it has been named as Amreshwar or Amarnath.
Trek to Amarnath Cave
Pahalgam is the base camp of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims. The cave is located at a distance of 45 km from Pahalgam, which is covered in four days. Chandanwari, Sheshnag (Wawjan) and Panchtarni are the night halt stations on the way to the holy cave.
On the very first day of the trek from Chandanwari, a distance of around 13 km is covered by trekking on steep inclines on the right bank of a cascading stream amid spectacular beauty and wild scenery. Sheshnag lake with its deep blue waters is the main centre of attraction of this route. The trek finally comes to a night halt at Sheshnag.
On the second day, a distance of around 12 km is covered after starting from Sheshnag, which steadily gains height upto Mahagunas Pass located at an altitude of 4,600 meters. From here the route starts descending down to Panchtarni, the final night halt destination of the Amarnath Yatra.
On the final day of the journey, devotees start from Panchtarni and cover a distance of 6 km to reach the holy cave and after completion of all the rituals like performing of puja, aarti, singing of bhajans and chanting of incantations, devotees start their journey back.
When to visit
Amarnath yatra takes place in the Shravan month as per the Hindu calendar, which generally begins in the month of July. The best time to visit Amarnath cave is from April to October as it is covered with snow in the winter season.
Registration for Amarnath yatra starts one month in advance for those interested in taking the holy journey. Nobody is permitted to proceed on the pilgrimage without registration card for which the notification is given by various media sources.
Accessibility
By Air : The nearest airport is at Srinagar. Srinagar is connected by flights of various airlines from major cities of India. From Srinagar one can take taxis or buses of J& KSRTC to Pahalgam.
By Rail : The nearest railway station is Jammu, which is connected by trains from main cities of India.
By Road : Regular deluxe and ordinary buses of J&KSRTC ply from Jammu to Pahalgam. Pahalgam is at a distance of about 250 km from Jammu city.
Some of the useful tips for pilgrims
1. Improve your physical fitness and trekking capacity before the commencement of the journey as it involves long distance steep walking in the mountain treks.
2. Persons facing medical problems like high blood pressure and heart ailments are advised to avoid this journey.
3. One can also hire ponies and porters which are available at prefixed prices.
4. Always carry a slip in your pocket with your name, address and the name of the accompanying person written on it.
5. Carry a pair of woolen clothes with you to escape the cold climate.
6. Carry the baggage as light as possible.
7. Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol.