How to Reach Amarnath

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Great rewards are only won after a difficult task is completed successfully and nothing is more important for a devout Hindu than the blessings of Lord Shiva worshipped in the cave of Amarnath. References to the fact that the Himalayas are the abode of Lord Shiva can be found in holy Hindu scriptures. More precisely, Amarnath is situated in a narrow gorge at a farther point of the beautiful Lidder Valley. The holy caves can be reached from a place called Pahalgam and from Srinagar. While from Srinagar the distance is nearly 141 kilometers or a little more, from Pahalgam it is 45 kilometers.

You can go by plane as well. Srinagar is the nearest aerodrome to reach there. It is a beautiful valley, surrounded by great sights to enjoy like Nagina Lake, Mughal Gardens, Dal Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, and much more. It is one popular tourist place which is also known as Paradise on Earth. You will find many flights available to Srinagar from Jammu and Delhi.

If not by flight, then you can also plan to go by rail. Jammu is the nearest railway station to reach Amarnath. It is connected with most of the stations of India.

You can also travel to Amaranth by road. Jammu and Srinagar are connected through road. You can hire a taxi or go by bus there. Taxis can be hired on a daily basis and buses can be taken on tour basis.

Vehicles from Pahalgam are available now days apart from ponies and dandies (chairs attached to poles and carried by porters) but the last bit of the journey from Pahalgam has to be undertaken on foot. If you start your journey from Pahalgam, then halts have to be made at three places namely- Chandanwari, Wawjan and Panchtarni, which is the last stop. From Chandanwari the way leads upwards to Pishu Ghati. From there, the pilgrims reach a place called Seshnag, passing which the night halt is at Wawjan. The route which leads from Chandanwari has been developed in recent times. The journey has become easier with addition of strong culverts and bridges.

Panchtarni is the last stop. The journey includes a steep ascent of 13 kilometers, finally descending into the lush green meadows of Panchtarni. The Amarnath cave is just 6 kilometers away from here.

You can also reach Amaranth through another route that is from Sonmarg via Baltal. Sonmarg is located on Srinagar-Leh road. After 15kms, you will find Baltal which is a charming place, situated at the foothills of Zojila Pass. To reach Amarnath, you will have to do a day journey from Baltal. For lunch or dinner, you can halt at Domail, which is 2kms from Balatal. If you are planning to go for a trek, be careful as the slopes are steep and need extra care. If you get tired, you can have a tea break as there are many stall available near Brarimarg and Sangam top. In the rainy season, the roads are extremely slippery. The road at the top joins Pehelgam You can also take ponies or pack ponies which are available at affordable prices.

If you are planning to go by plane, then the nearest airport for you is in Badgam Dist. This airport is connected with major cities of India. Then you can take a rail to Jammu, 300 kms away. From there National Highway 1A will connect you to the valley of Kashmir. Here, every type of transportation is available that too at an affordable price. All sorts of vehicles, right from buses to taxis are easily available. For crossing the mountain road, it takes 10 to 12 hours where you can enjoy watching natural beauty and the famous Jawaharlal Tunnel, linking Kashmir Valley with the country.