The Amarnath Yatra | 28th June to 21st August, 2013
The Destroyer, the Transformer, the Cosmic Dancer, Lord Mahadev, the supreme soul; Lord Shiva has always held a sort of cult status, enhanced more so with the success of the Shiva Trilogy. Last year, more than six lakh pilgrims paid their respects to this aniconic form of the lingam in Lord Shiva's legendary Himalayan abode of Amarnath.
It is not an easy journey, with difficult terrain to cover and rough weather to overcome. Children below 13 years and persons over 75 years of age are not permitted to take the yatra this year. Women who are more than six weeks pregnant will also not be permitted. This annual pilgrimage is possible only for a little over a month every year, 28th June to 21st August this year. We suggest, make the most of your trip and take time off to experience the paradise that is Kashmir.
Itinerary (Recommended Dates:
February 23, 24)
Day One | Arrival in Srinagar|Transfer to Sonmarg
You'll be picked up from Srinagar airport and driven to Sonmarg (about 4hours). On arrival, check into the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Sonmarg.
Day Two | Sonmarg-Baltal-Panchtarni-Baltal-Srinagar
After an early breakfast, drive 15kms to the Baltal helipad, from where a helicopter will take you to Panchtarni. The holy cave is around 6kms from here. Finish your darshan and return to the Panchtarni helipad. You can have lunch at one of the pandals on the way back. The helicopter will take you back to Baltal, from where you will be driven to Srinagar. Dinner and overnight stay in Srinagar.
Day Three | Sightseeing in Srinagar
Head out after breakfast to feast your eyes on the famed Mughal Gardens - Shalimar Bagh (built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jehan), Nishat Bagh (the 'garden of bliss') and Chashma Shahi. Drop by the ancient royal observatory of Pari Mahal and the Buddhist remains at Harwan. Have authentic kashmiri fare for lunch at Lal Chowk or one of the restaurants on Sherwani Road. Pick traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and Pashmina at the local emporiums. Dinner and Overnight stay at Srinagar.
Day Four | Departure from Srinagar
After breakfast, spend the day at leisure and depart at the scheduled time.
Add Ons
- Air tickets to Srinagar and back
The Legend
Legend has it that this was the spot chosen by Lord Shiva to narrate the Amar Katha (the secret of immortality) to Parvati. He needed a spot devoid of any living presence as no one else could listen to the Katha. And so, he chose a deserted cave in Amarnath, unmindful of a pigeon egg lying there. The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret. Apparently these pigeons can still be seen on the arduous route to the cave.
The 'Shiva Lingam' is basically an ice stalagmite. However, water thawing from the roof does not fall on the Lingam, which casts a doubt on the stalagmite theory. The Lingam apparently grows, from May to August, to a height of nine feet and then gradually melts. It is believed to grow and shrink according to the phases of the moon.
