Amarnath Yatra

The Amarnath city, one of the most recognized pilgrim sites in India, is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, district Anantnag. It's said that Aryaraja (period between 34 BCE to 17 CE) used to worship the Ice Lingam (which represents Lord Shiva) here during summer seasons. The Sanskrit text Nilamata Purana of 6th century also consists of references of Amarnath. Its pure and natural beauty and the snowy areas add to the divine experience of the pilgrims (Shiva Devotees), who take part in the Amarnath Yatra.

The rocky area makes the pilgrimage a little tough compared to other sites. The 90 feet long cave (at a height of 150 meters) happens to be the main attraction during the Amarnath Yatra. The mysterious Shiva Lingam of ice is strongly considered by the residents and pilgrims as one of the miracles of God. The cave of Amarnath is of extraordinary importance as the interesting stories and beliefs about Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati reside with it here. Vehicles aren't permitted near the cave area. The tour has to be done by walking.

Mesmerizing scenic natural beauties are also found between Pahalgam to Chandanwari, in Seshnag, the Sankaracharya Temple (with unparallel beauty), and the Hazrathbal shrine. Hindus as well as Muslims both come to the Hazrathbal shrine (near Dal Lake).

Accommodation during the Amarnath Yatra is organized in tents, temples, or places arranged by BSF, army or CRPF. One should carry warm clothes during the journey as it gets cold. The tents might charge the pilgrims around 100 to 800 Rupees for each night, depending on the rush. Camps are also available in cave areas, Chandanwadi, Seshnag, Pahalgam, and Panchtarani. You can get free good vegetarian food in Bhandaras here.

If you're going by air, Srinagar Airport (SXR) is the closest one. Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai (BOM); Satwari Airport in Jammu (IXJ); and Indira Gandhi Intl Airport in Delhi (DEL) are the other airports that can help you reach Amarnath through its regular flights from various places (domestic and international). If you're going by train, the closest station to Amarnath is Jammu, where you can reach from almost all the main Indian Railway stations. Other two close railway stations available are Jammu Tawi (JAT) and Udhampur (UHP). You can also get helicopter services from Srinagar. Package tours can be good options if you are looking for a complete trip.