Perched at an altitude of 12,756 ft, Amarnath cave is a revered pilgrimage for the Hindus. The holy cave draws a huge influx of devotees every year who make their way up the perilous treks amidst the cries of bam bam bhole. This year the cave is open from 29th June to 7th August and pilgrims can cover the distance on foot, ponies and helicopters. Favorite Trip Planners is offering Amarnath Yatra by helicopter at a very reasonable price.
Here are the seven things you should know if you are planning to visit this holy shrine.
1. The Cave was chosen by Lord Shiva to narrate the Secret of Immortality to Goddess Parvati Hundreds of thousands of devotees trek up the perilous mountainous trails to reach the sacred cave to pay homage to the ice linga which is considered the mark of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva brought Goddess Parvati to this clandestine cave to tell her the secret of mortality. To keep the secret from the world, Lord Shiva chose this cave which was far from any life. Lord Shiva also left all his companions, including Nandi, the moon atop his head, the snakes around his neck, all the five elements of life as well as Lord Ganesha to keep the secret.
2. The yatra commences in the month of Shravan
The yatra is carried out in the month of Shravan, the fifth of the Hindu year, which is July and August in the western calendar. The Hindu devotees visit this sacred site during Shravani Mela, when the cave is accessible. The ice linga in the cave gets formed around May every year and starts to fade away after August.
3. The yatra starts from Pahalgam
The yatra starts from Pahalgam which is 36 to 48 km long trek away from the cave. It takes 3-5 days one way. Devotees can also hire ponies, which are available in plenty of numbers. Another route to reach Amarnath Yatra is Via Bhatkal. Due to its steep slopes this route may cause health issues and isn’t recommended for everyone. This route is just 14 km long and round trip via this route takes just 1-2 days. Ponies are not allowed on this route. To save time, Amarnath Yatra by helicopters is also available from Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam and Baltal-Panjtarni-Baltal. Favorite Trip Planners is offering reasonable Amarnath Yatra by Helicopter this year.
4. Age restriction
Children below 13 and senior citizens below 75 are not allowed to go on this trek. Also, women with more than six weeks of pregnancy are restricted to go forward on this trek. However, pilgrims of different age groups as well as physically handicapped people can be seen on the trek.
5. Food and other basic needs are taken care of en route
The routes to the holy cave are equipped with many facilities, including food and water availability to make the yatra safe and healthy for everyone. The Indian Army, state government, and central government knowing the significance of this holy Yatra take good care of security and all the necessary facilities on the way. The common kitchens (langars) are provided free along the trekking route.
6. Pack your baggage carefully
The trek can be really harsh. Pilgrims are advised to carry woolen clothes, sweatshirts, trekking shoes, a raincoat, a torch and other basic things. Women are recommended to wear not trek in sarees and rather wear salwar kameez.
7. Medical Examination
A medical check-up is necessary for all the pilgrims. No one is allowed to go forward on the trek without a medical certificate. The compulsory medical certificate should be acquired from doctors or institutions prescribed by the Amarnath Shrine. These certificates are required to minimize the risks related to the
