Experience the thrilling Amarnath Yatra

India is full of pilgrimage centres. Right from the North to South India, temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras are plenty in numbers. Amarnath is one such important pilgrimage sites of Hindus. Here is a brief description of Amarnath Yatra.

The very famous Amarnath cave is located in Jammu and Kashmir. Every year hundreds and hundreds of devotees visit Amarnath which is popularly known as Amarnath Yatra. One of the holiest shrines of Hindus in the country, this is the place where you can feel the presence of Lord Shiva.

Situated amidst the charming valley and the snow-capped mountains, Amarnath is a heavenly place. The holy Amarnath is located approximately 144 km away from Srinagar. The origin of the cave traces back to the 6th century and it is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Devotees come and pay tribute to the ice-lingam which is believed to be symbolize the Lord Shiva. The other two ice formations beside Lord Shiva are the goddess Parvati and son Ganesha. The road to Amarnath is quite exciting. Devotees and visitors have to trek as the cave is situated at the end of the Lidder valley. The discovery of the cave and the lingam is wrapped in various mythological and folk tales. Whatever the history is, the place is today an important centre of pilgrimage. Besides, the main temple, Amarnath Cave, Sheshnag Lake and Mahagunas Pass are some of the places to visit in Amarnath.

Pahalgam is an important spot while moving towards Amarnath. The beautiful Pahalgam is a prominent place in world tourism map. The Amarnath Yatri Niwas means the pilgrims camp here for the first night. Langars are there on the way to Amarnath which offers food to the Yatris. From Pahalgam, the next destination is the charming Chandanwari. It is 16 km from Pahalgam. Along the Lidder river the way to Chandanwari offers a spectacular view to the visitors. Pissu Top is the next point. The second night camp on the Sheshnag will increase your inner joy of reaching the top. From Sheshnag, Panchtarni is 4.7 km. This is the place for the third camp. Panjtarni river will mesmerise you. After Panchtarni, you finally work for the Amarnath Cave. This the traditional route to Amarnathji.

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board helps all the devotees with the Amarnath Yatra. You can travel from Jammu to Pahalgam by taxis or buses or from Srinagar you can take bus or taxi to Pahalgam. The best mode to travel to Kashmir and Amarnath is by air. From Srinagar Airport take a taxi to Baltal. Baltal is 100 km from Srinagar Airport. You can plan your stay in the Amarnathji Shrine Board hotels. From Baltal, it is a 14 km trek to Amarnath Cave. This is the shortest route to Amarnath. There are different other routes. Srinagar Airport is well-connected to major cities of the state. Express trains from different parts of the country connect Jammu Tawi. Check Amarnath Express and plan your trip accordingly.

In the month of Shravan, that is July to August, devotees flock to the shrine. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board organize all the necessary accommodations and the Yatra every year. You can fix your Yatra with the help of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board or simply explore the Kashmir valley and take a trip to Amarnath.

Sandeep is an experienced travel consultant, who enjoys travelling and loves to write about the destinations he has been to and shares his experience. He also writes about travel tips, world's best holiday destinations, best hotels in a destination,