Detailed Itinerary

Days 1 : : Srinagar
On arrival at Srinagar you will be met by our representative at the airport and Transfer to Dlx. House Boat.afternoon free for personal activities. Over night stay at House Boat.

Days 2 : Srinagar – Local Sightseeintg ( 50 Kms)

Half Days tour of famous Mughal Gardens visiting Cheshma Shahi (Royal Spring), Nishat (Garden of Pleasure), Shalimar ( Abode of Love). Return to Dlx. House Boat for Hot lunch. In the after noon Shikara ride on Lake-Dal to enjoy the beauty that God has Graced the City with which is often is Compared to Veince.You will get a view of some very interesting places around the lake. Over night at Dlx. House Boat

Days 3 : Srinagar – Pahalgam ( 93 KMS)
Leave Srinagar by Cars/Coaches 93 Kms Half Days Drive to Pahalgam (2440 Mts.) enroute visit Saffaron fields , Awantipuram Ruins and Mattan Temlple. On the way see some beautiful villages. Pahalgam is the most famous place for Indian film Industry. Enjoy the charm of the Valley. Over night at Hotel.

The Legend
There is famous Rigvedic Verse that says "Ekam Sat " that is "There is one Being ,the sages call Him by many names." The  God (Parmeshwar) has three deities who carry on the world .This is Known as Holy Trinity. Brahma- the creator, Vishnu - the perpetuator of life and Shiva (Mahesh ) -the purifier and perpetuator of good and destroyer of evil. Rig Veda refer Shiva as Rudra as in its following verse .  "We Worship Tryambaka (Rudra) , Who spread FrAgrance and Increases Nourishment , May He release me ,like the cucumber from its stem , From Mortal Life , But not From Immorality . "(Rig Veda Mandal VII Sukta 59 and Mantra 12)
The Yajurveda describes Shiva as ascetic warrior Whose robe is of Deer Skin  and He carries Trishul . 
According to the verse Satyam, Shivam ,Sundaram ,the life is described as having three facets Truth (Satyam), Good (Shivam) and the Beautiful (Sundaram).
Shiva is a living God. The most Sacred and  ancient books of India , the Rig Veda narrates His presence in the hymns. Vedic myths, rituals and even astronomy testifies to His existence from the dawn of time .The Mohindaro and Harapa findings confirm Shiva worship in the ancient India. According to the older scriptures, He has three places  of His residence. One is  Kailash Parvat another  is Lohit Giri under which Brahamputra flows and third is Muzwan Parvat . 


The Amarnath Cave has special significance .
The  Legend about the  importance of Amarnath Cave is as follows :-
This is The Cave which was chosen by Bhole Shankar  for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe  to Maa Parvati ji .   The story goes like this  .   Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Shiv ji  to  let her know why and when  He  started wearing the beads of heads ( Mund Mala)  .   Bhole Shankar replied when ever you are born  I add one more head in my beads Maa Parvati said ,"  My Lord, my body is destroyedevery time  and I die again and again, but you are Immortal. Please let me know the secret of this ." Bhole Shankar replied that it is due to Amar Katha ."

Maa Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret.  For long Shiva ji continued postponing .   Finally on consistent demand from Maa Parvati He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret . He started  for    lonely  place  where  no living  being  could  listen  it .  He choose Amarnath Cave .  In preparation to that He left His Nandi ( The Bull which He used to ride )  at Pahalgam (Bail gaon) .  At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag He released the snakes .  He decided to Leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill ) . At Panjtarni, Shivji  left the Five Elements behind (Earth , Water, Air , Fire and Sky)  which make living being . He is the Lord of these elements.  It is believed that as a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world , Shivaji and  Maa Parvati  had Tandav Dance . After leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar enters the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati Maa . Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the Deer Skin and concentrate . To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale , He created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him  to spread fire to eliminate every living  thing in and around the Holy Cave . After this He started narrating  the secret of immortality to Maa Parvati . But as a matter of chance one egg which was lying beneath the  Deer skin remained protected . It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati Asan (Bed) .  The pair of pigeons which were born out of this  egg became immortal  having listened the secret  of immortality (Amar Katha). 

Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons  when they trek the arduous route to pay their obeisance before the Ice-Lingam (the phallic symbol of Shiva).

Discovery of Holy Cave
The story narrated by people about the discovery of this Holy Cave   is of  a Gujjar ( shepherd) Buta Malik . He is given the credit of discovering this Holy Cave   . Story goes like this , that a saint gave Buta Malik a bag full of Coal. On reaching his home when he opened the bag , to his  utter surprise the bag was full of gold coins . This made him overwelmed with joy. He  ran to thank the Saint . But,  what he found was that  the  Saint had disappeared . Instead , he found  The Holy Cave and Shiv Lingam there in . He announced the discovery of this  to the Villagers. Then onwards this has become the sacred place of Pilgrimage .

The ancient epics narrate an other  story which  goes like this. The valley of Kashmir was under water .It was a big lake. Kashyap Rishi drained the water through number of rivers and rivulets . In those DaysBhrigu Rishi came that way on a visit to The Himalyas. He was the first to have Darshans of this Holy Cave . When people heard of the Lingam, Amarnath for them  became Shiva's abode and a Centre of pilgrimage . Since then Lacs of devotees perform the pilgrimage through tough terrain and avail eternal happiness.

The trek to Amarnath, in the month of sharavan ( July-August) has the devout flock to this incredible shrine, where the image of Shiva, in the form of a Lingam, is formed naturally of an Ice Stalagmite, which waxes and wanes with the Moon's cycle . By its side are fascinating, two more Ice Lingams, that of  Maa Parvati and of their son, Ganesha .

When To Take up Yatra
The Amarnath Yatra is organised every year by the J &K Govt. during  the month of sharavan ( July and August); the dates  however , vary every year looking  at the weather  conditions and according to Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) in the month of Sharavan (Vikrama Samwat). Yatra toBaba Amarnath Holy Cave for which one has to trek a height of  about 14,500 ft  is full of thrill and joy .The  feeling  of divine which is always beneath  ones' heart ,  burst out and one realises 'Moksha'  as one attends  the Cave   and   perform the  prayer  before the  Shivlinga . Surrounded by beautiful valleys, mountains , one  will  always  feel  His presence on the paradise of the earth, the memory of which hardly vanishes with time    A  journey  which  will  rediscover the nature and its love  which  is always  inside but one has never felt.

Climate
The climatic conditions are very uncertain . Rain or snowfall may take  place  at any time  or  place during the Yatra . It is to be particularly noted that abrupt changes in temperature might occur . Sunny weather may turn into rain / snow fall in  a short time .The temperature may fall upto -5 degree C . 

How to Perform Pilgrimage
For performing this Yatra, one is required to get registered . The registration is done by J &K Govt. Tourist Offices, located at Delhi ,Mumbai, Calcutta , Chennai , Ahmedabad , Hyderabad , Jammu and Srinagar .
Applications for registration in the prescribed format which is reproduced here .You can get  the print out of this form and this can be used for registration .The filled in form  should be sent to the registration office nearest to you , along with two passport size photographs duly affixed at the indicated places, a self addressed pre stamped envelope (for speed post) and a medical fitness certificate from an MBBS doctor .   Each yatri has to submit a seperate application for registration.   Every yatri will be issued a registration-cum-identity slip  by the registration authority. Yatris are advised to  carry this identity slip   during the  Yatra period to ensure a smooth passage

All Yatris are advised  the following :
Insurance : In view of the hazardous nature of the Yatra, pilgrims are advised to get themselves insured  suitably. It is  advisable  that insurance cover  may be got done before leaving their place of residance. 

Personal Tips:
Because of the unpredictable  weather conditions, which  often are  wet and extremely cold during the Yatra period, pilgrims are advised to carry rain coat, woollen clothing, small umbrella (with head elastic band and strap around chin), walking stick , dry fruits, torch and  personal medical kits etc mmodation and shelters at nominal charges.

Route Map
Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of the Lidder Valley , Amarnath Holy Cave stands at 3,888 mtrs. and is 363 kms. from Jammu Via Pahalgam and about 414 kms. from Jammu Via Baltal. The detailed description of the two routes to the Holy Cave is given below:

How to Reach

One can reach the first part of journey through
Air:
The nearest aerodrome is Srinagar . Srinagar is a beautiful valley having world famous sights to see, such as Dal Lake , Nagina Lake , Shankaracharya Temple , Mughal Gardens and what not. It is the most sought after  tourist place. It is also known as " Paradise on earth ". Srinagar is summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. There are daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu . On some week Daysflights also pickup  passengers from Chandigarh and Amritsar .

 Rail:
Jammu is the nearest Railway Station . Jammu is winter Capital of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu is a beautiful city and is also known as "CITY OF TEMPLES ". One may  visit old temples such as Raghunath Temple , Mahadev Mandir and other temples . It is well connected with all stations of India.The various trains coming to Jammu are listed here below.

Road :
Jammu and Srinagar are also connected through road. Buses and Taxies are also available for this part of the  journey .These can be hired on daily as well as full tour basis.

Do's & Don'ts

Do's
*Prepare for Yatra by achieving  Physical fitness
In order to perform smooth and trouble free  yatra, it is advisable to  start preparatory morning  / evening walk of about  4 - 5 kms per Days atleast a month prior to Yatra. Apart from above If you can have  daily massage of your body with body oil, preferably mustard (sarson) oil and  bathe in the lukewarm water , this will  help your body to become flexible and you will not feel tired. Moreover the effect of sudden change in temperature & climate on you  will be reduced to a large extent . As oxygen gets rare some times , It is better to improve your physical fitness  .  To increase your body efficiency of oxygen , it is very good to start deep breathing exercises . The Yoga exercise like Prana Yam can be learnt
*Carry needful warm clothings and wind shield and proper shoes.
You have to trek through  high mountains and there are  cold winds blowing . So  during the Yatra,  take Woollen Clothings, Small Umbrella (only Head Cover with Elastic around Forehead and supported by strap around the chin),  Wind shield, Raincoat, Waterproof Shoes ( Preferably Hunter Shoes), Torch, Stick, Cap (preferably Monkey Cap), Gloves, Jacket, Woollen Socks and Trousers.
These are essential as the climate   is unpredictable and changes abruptly  from sunny weather to rain and snow. The temperature may abruptly fall even up to -5 degree C.
*Keep a slip  with your Name, Address and the name of accompanying yatri  in your pocket
*Take  water bottle , dry fruit,  and baked  grams with you during journey
*Keep some cold cream or vaseline with you to protect skin from cold winds
*Take a little relaxation on steep inclines and don't exert yourself too much.
*Yatris are advised to follow the instructions issued by Yatra Administration.
*It is requested that do provide all needful help to the co-devotee travelling with you.
*Perform yatra with a pious mind and keep enchanting " Om Namah Shivay" all the way.
*During  the Yatra from Pahalgam onward , keep your clothes and eatables in plastic bag to
*Avoid the things being drenched during the rain
*Carry some common medicines such as Glucose, Disprin etc. with you for immediate relief.
*Sari is not suitable dress for the Yatra .Ladies should not wear saris as it may be very inconvenient. Salwar kameej, pant shirt or Track suit will  be very comfortable
*Keep the horses / ponies with your luggage  and Coolies  along side as it is difficult to trace them in case you are separated from them. More over you may need some of those useful items from luggage any time at a short notice.
*Best suitable shoes are Hunter shoes and most comfortable Dress is woollen track suit.
*The best way to perform Yatra is to keep a steady and slow  pace.
*Don't exert more by fast walking . The moral of the story of Hare and tortoise is best applicable here.

Don'ts
*Don't stop at such places which are marked by  warning notices
*Don't take drugs during Yatra.
*The children and  aged  persons are advised not to perform yatra ,keeping in view the tough nature of the yatra.. 
*Don't use Slippers because of  the steep rises and falls on the route  to the Holy Cave
*Don't attempt short cuts on the route as it is very dangerous.

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