Amarnath Yatra – Dip into the Matchless divinity and Spellbinding Natural Charms

One of the most famous pilgrimages in India, Shri Amarnath Yatra starts on the panchami day of the bright half of ‘Shravan’ month. This annually held Yatra is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and has a great religious importance for Hindu Pilgrims. Thousands of Hindus come from different parts country, and join the journey that leads them to the holy Amarnath Cave. Every year in month of July/August, when ice at Himalaya begins to melt down, Shri Amarnath Yatra begins, because this is the time when a giant iced Shiva-lingum takes place in the holy cave. It’s believed that those who complete the journey and catch glimpse of the Shiva-lingum get ‘Moksha’ and will have no re-birth.

Amarnath Cave is located in a narrow gorge at the end of Lidder Valley amidst the cloud-kissing peaks of Himalaya. It’s situated at an elevation about 14,000 ft and virtually 140 km from Srinagar – the capital of Jammu & Kashmir state. The place remains obscure for the most of the years, and can be accessed only in months of July and August. This amazing place is believed to be an adobe for lord Shiva for a short period of time. It’s the spot where the lord narrated the story to his consort Parvati that could grant immortality to its listener. The cave and Shiva-lingum were detected by Bregish Rishi while wandering around the Himalayas. When people came to know about it, they began to visit this sacred place to pay homage to great deity Shiva. The best time visit this place is the full moon day of Shravan month, according to Hindu panchang.

Undoubtedly, journey to Lord Shiva’s adobe is a rewarding experience full of thrills, joy and religiousness. The 45 km distance from Pahalgam to Amarnathji is filled with various wonderments exploring them can leave anyone spellbound. However, Amarnath Yatra registration in Shrinagar is mandatory for pilgrims to be part of this holy Yatra. It takes usually 4 days to reach the Amarnath Cave through this route after necessary rests and night halts on the way. One will find many base camps offering the pilgrims night stay with all required facilities.

During the Yatra, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni are the main destinations for night stay. The first halt at Chandanwari is about 16 km from the Pahalgam that comes after a number of enchanting landscapes being crossed. Breathtaking natural beauty and alluring serenity leave long-lasting impression on travelers’ heart, mind and soul. Sheshnag, a beautiful lake whose name comes from the seven surrounding peaks which resemble the heads of Sheshnag (a mythical snake) is the major attraction of Shri Amarnath Yatra. Deep blue water of this lake looks stunning and beauty of surrounding peaks is beyond any imagination. Camps here offer nice stay with all required facilities.

After trekking 12 km to steady height and then descending to the meadow, you will reach to land of Panchtarini. This is the last camp en route to the Amarnath Temple. The holy Amarnath Cave is just 6 km from Panchtarini, so you can return back here after getting darshan on the same day. Throughout the journey, you would meet a number of destinations with heavenly beauty and religious grandness. Being physically and mentally fit, you could enjoy this pilgrimage to the fullest.