Amarnath

Hello Guys!!!
Are you planning to travel holy cave of Amarnath?

Then thanks Baba Barfani and of-course me because you are at the right place to plan this tour.

This post will cover.

•  Are you eligible?
•  Required documents for yatra.
•  How to get these documents.
•  How much luggage you should carry.
•  Starting points to begin yatra (Baltal and Pahalgam) 
•  How to reach Baltal/Pahalgam from Jammu?
•  Where you can stay in Jammu. 
•  Where to stay at Baltal/Pahalgam with cost.
•  Journey from Pahalgam.
•  Journey from Baltal
•  Cost of horse/Pittu(Cullie) and tents.
•  Nearest sightseeing with cost.

Are you eligible?

Children below 13 years and persons above the age of 75 years would not be allowed to undertake Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
If you satisfy above age criteria, now its a time to prepare for Amarnath Yatra registration.

Required Documents :

• You must have a Amarnath yatra registration for starting journey to holly cave.
• Yatra registration contain way of your journey and date of your journey.
• You can start journey from any of the destination that is Baltal or Pahalgam.
• Registration is the only compulsory document for starting journey but you should also carry one photo id with you(not mandatory).

How to get yatra registration?

• You can make Amarnath registration from authorised branch of Punjab National Bank or J&K banks.
• For Amarnath registration, bank will demand your health certificate issued by authorized hospitals (Most of the government hospitals from each city can issue this certificate)
• You have to download health certificate form from net.
• I made my health certificate from Civil Hospital Gurgaon that only worth Rs.5, that is card fees of government hospital.
• Private hospital can charge you from Rs.500 to Rs.800.
• You can find the list of hospitals/bank city wise from shrine-board website.

   Do remember while registration.

•  Before registration you must decide your starting point i.e. Baltal/Pahalgam
•  If you are going in group, make sure starting points and journey date of each person is same otherwise you will be in trouble.
•  One branch is eligible to do maximum of 10 registration of same date.

Note : If you reach Baltal/Pahalgaon on date 5 then you will start your journey from 6 morning so mention your journey date on registration form accordingly.
If your journey date is 6 then J&K police will not allow you to start journey from Pahalgam/Baltal on even date 5.But on back date they will allow you, means if your journey date is 5, they will allow you on date 6,7 or even 8 so plan accordingly.
If any of your group member has after date registration then you have to leave this person on Pahalgram/Baltal.Police will not allow him.(If after date registration member is lady then they will allow her on request).

How much luggage you should carry?

Guys read it carefully.

• If you are thinking there are lot of cold and you should carry heavy jackets and sweaters then you are wrong.
• At day time you can track even in half t-shirt and at night lot of blanket/quilts will be provided by tents owner.
• To make your journey comfortable you should only carry one track suit, one windcheater one woollen cap and one raincoat only(don't forget to carry windcheater and raincoat).
• If you don't have track suit you can carry lower and full t shirt that's it.
• Don't forget to carry one woollen cap/scarf because cold wind can cause head pain.
• No need to carry heavy jacket, sweaters, razai all that.
• Must carry common medicine for head pain, fever, body ache and glucose.

Starting points to begin journey to holy cave(Baltal and Pahalgam)

• You can start journey from Baltal and Pahalgam.
• From Baltal, holy cave is approx 16 km away.
• From Pahalgam to Chandanwari you have to go by cab that is 16 km away.From Chandawari gate you can start your tracking.
• Holy cave is approx 34 km from Chandanwari.

Where to stay in Jammu ?

• Government organized free camp at Jammu. At camp Amarnath yatries can stay free and foods are also free for Amarnath yatries.
•  Government bus services available from Jammu camp to both Baltal and Pahalgam.
•  Buses moves from Jammu camp at morning 5AM.
•  Yatries has to book buses one day before.When yatries move to Jammu camp, first they must book bus for Baltal/Pahalgam.
•  Fare of buses are from 400 to 1000 approx according to bus type.
•  Using government organized buses are more safe because Indian Army vehicle with black commando take care of buses securities through out the journey.

How to reach Baltal/Pahalgam from Jammu?

Jammu to Pahalgam :

•  Jammu to Pahalgam is approx 280 km.
•  Journey took Approx 9 to 10 hr.
•  If you want to save money you can take bus from Jammu camp.Busses from Jammu camp moves at 5am so you have to join camp one day before.
•  You can also book private cab from Jammu Railway station to Pahalgam.
•  Rate of private cab is fix if you book it from Jammu railway station.
•  Rate of 4 seater cab(Alto) is approx 4800 Rs. and Rate of SUV(Innova) is 5200 Rs. approx.
•  If you want to book private cab to Pahalgam, try to left Jammu before 12PM otherwise you have to stay mid of way because army will not allow to move at night.

Jammu to Baltal :

•  Jammu to Baltal is approx 390 km.
•  Journey take approx 11 to 12 hrs.
•  If you want to save money you can take bus from Jammu camp.Buses from Jammu camp moves at 5am so you have to join camp one day before.
•  You can also book private cab from Jammu Railway station to Baltal.
•  Rate of private cab is fix if you book it from Jammu railway station.
•  Rate of 4 seater cab(Alto) is approx 5800 Rs. and Rate of SUV(Innova) is 6200 Rs. approx.
•  If you want to book private cab to Baltal, try to left Jammu before 09 AM otherwise you have to stay after Srinagar and before Baltal because army will not allow to  move at night.

Where to stay at Pahalgam/Baltal

Pahalgam :

• You will be allowed to start yatra if you reach entry gate of Baltal/Chandanwari (Chandanwari is 16 km away from Pahalgam) before 11 am otherwise you have to stay at Pahalgam/Baltal.
• Government organized camps for Amarnath yatries. these camps are highly secure. 24*7 under surveillance of Indian Army.
• Rate of camp is fixed at Pahalgam that is 150 Rs. per person.
• You can also stay at hotels. hotels agent will pick you from stand and also provide cab for Chandanwari at morning.
• As per the hotel agent, hotels room cost is approx 200 Rs per person.

Baltal :

• Camps are also available at Baltal but cost of tents are not fixed at Baltal.
• You must negotiate for tents at Baltal.Whole tent capacity of 10 can be available from 200 Rs. to max Rs. 700.

Journey from Pahalgram :

• From Pahalgam you have to move Chandanwari that is 16 km away. this 16 km journey should be completed by cab.
• You should reach Chandanwari gate before 11am otherwise you will not be allowed to move ahead.
• Till Chandanwari gate you have to pass through 3 check post where you have to show your registration.
• From Chandanwari your journey to holy cave will start.You can start journey by tracking, by horse and by palki as per your capacity.
• From Chandanwari next destination is Pissutop that is 3.6km away from Chandanwari .
• These 3.6 km is toughest journey with highest inclined way.
• If you have heavy bags/luggage with you and feeling difficulty to carry, you can hire a pittu till Pissutop with rate 50-75 Rs. per bag(don't give more than this).
• Once you reach Pissutop, you can have food and snacks here. Remember don't take heavy and oily food. Everything is free through out the way so don't carry any food with us.
• From Pissutop you have to move towards Sheshnag that is 9 km away.
• Way to Shesnag from Pissutop is flat and slightly inclined.
• You have to stay at Shesnag because after 1pm you will not be allowed to move ahead.
• Tents are available at Shesnag. Rate of tents are fixed approx 250Rs. per person.
• IF you hire horse then they can reach you Shesnag before 1 pm so you can move to next destination that is Panchtarni on same day.
• Next destination is Panchtarni. Panchtarni is approx 12 km away from Shesnag.
• From Shesnag, next place is Mahagunstop, Mahagunstop is the only and highest height place between Shesnag and Panchtarni.
• Mahagunstop is approx 14500 feet above from sea level so oxygen is low at the way.
• Once you reach Mahagunstop, further journey to Panchtarni is flat and down.From Mahagunstop to further journey is awesome, you have to track on snow(glacier).As you have to move down so you can skate on ice and enjoy ice skating.
• If you reach Panchtarni before 3 Pm you will be allowed to move ahead to holy cave.
• From Panchtarni Holy Cave is 6 km away.
• As you left Panchtarni you have to climb last mountain approx 3km to reach Sangam. these 3 km will be your last toughest way. Once you cross this way next 3 km is flat and downwards.
• If you reach holy cave before 6:30Pm you will be allowed to Darshan otherwise you have to stay there on tent.
• Tent near Holy Cave is also negotiable start from 300 to maximum 1000 Rs(Tent owner start demanding from 2500).
• Stay at tent and go for Darshan at morning. Darshan start from 6:30 am.
• After having Darshan of Baba Barfany you can return on same day.
• Best and easy way to return is return to Baltal that is only 15 km down.
• At evening you will reach Baltal. From Baltal you can get cab/bus to Jammu so that you can reach Jammu at next morning.
• You can also stay at Baltal.Camps/tents are easily available at Baltal.Tants rate are negotiable here start from 200 to max 700.

Journey from Baltal :

• From Baltal Holy cave is approx 16 km away.
• This route is tough because you have to cross continue 12 km inclined and tough way.
• This route is full of dust and stone so you have to cover your face and head.
• By this way you can reach Holly Cave on same day and after Darshan next day you can return.
• You will not be allowed start journey after 11 am from Baltal gate so plan accordingly.
• Throughout the way you will get free food, drink and medical centre.

Cost of horse/Pittu(Collie) and Tents:

Those figure that I am presenting are not fixed, these are paid my me and also negotiable.
Following rates vary as per your negotiation ability.

• Pittu from Chandanwari to Pissutop  -   I gave 150 Rs. for 3 bags
• Pittu from Pissutop to Shesnaag   -   I gave 300 Rs. for 3 bags.
• Pittu from Shesnag to Holly cave   - I gave 1800 Rs for 8 bags.
• Tent at Pahalgam - 150 per person(Fixed)
• Tent at Shesnag - 250 per person(Fixed)
• Tent near Sangam to Holy cave - 300 to 1000 Rs. for whole tent(depends how much you can negotiate)
• Tent at Baltal - 200 to 1000 Rs. for whole tent(depends how much you can negotiate)
• Water bottle - Minimum Rs.30 and Maximum Rs.60.
• Hot Water Bucket - 40 to 50 Rs.