Amarnath is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations of India and is organized every year by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine has an important part to play in Hindu culture and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines. The main cave is situated at a height of 12,756 ft from the sea level and remains covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer. Every year ‘Amarnath Yatra’ is marked by ‘Pratham Pujan’ which is said to summon the blessings of Baba Amarnath and attracts a large number of devotees from all over the world.
As per the beliefs, the Amarnath Cave is where God Shiva was narrating Amar Katha to Goddess Parvati and wanted to keep it a secret. Therefore, he left all his companions behind. His riding friend – Nandi, the bull – was left at Pahalgam, the moon atop his head at Chandanwari, the snake around his neck at Lake Sheshnag, the 5 basic essentials of life that he carried at Panchtarini and even his son- Lord Ganesha himself- at Mahaguna top.
When he finished the narration, he realized that Goddess Parvati has actually fallen asleep and a parrot was listening all this while. This infuriated the Lord and he threw his Trishul to kill the parrot. To save himself, the parrot entered the womb of the saint’s wife. The baby was later born to become a famous sage.
There are two Amarnath Yatra routes that pilgrims can take to travel Amarnath Cave and both these routes are well connected from all the major cities for easy connectivity. To start from Srinagar or Pahalgam, one will have to trek to a height of more than 14,000 feet. Hence, being physically fit and mentally prepared for the journey is a must. The two routes to Amarnath Yatra are:
It is the most popular and shortest route to reach the cave. The region of Baltal is 14 km from the Cave and allows people to only walk. Ponies are not allowed. However, one can be carried on ‘Dandies’. The trek via Baltal usually takes 1-2 days to complete. This route is advised to be taken by the people who are young, healthy and looking for some adventure amidst the religious trip.
This is the most preferable route and is around 47 km from the main Amarnath Cave Site. The first step of Yatra starts at Chandanwari which is 16 km from the Pahalgam base camp and is at 9,500 feet. Then there is Pissu top, which is 3 km away and located at 11,000 ft, Shesnag – 9 km from Pissu top at 11,730 ft, followed by the Panjtarni-12 km ahead and located at 12,000 feet. Pilgrims who cannot walk this far can opt for Helicopter services easily available for it. The trek usually takes 3-5 days one way to complete.
