Amarnath Yatra is one of the most
popular pilgrimages of Hindus undertaken by people of all age groups. Earlier,
the Yatra was physically exhausting with rest available only at designated
spots, but now the the options of Amarnath
Yatra with Helicopter, it is much easier to visit this Holy place. These
are some of the things you might need to know about the Amarnath Yatra packages.
The tour
Undertaken by lakhs of devotees
each year mostly during the months of July and August, the tour coincides with
the Shravani Mela festival. This is a holy month for the Hindus. Tourists
usually start the tour on foot from Srinagar
or Pahalgam. A hard trek, the trip needs proper organizing and guides. It is
unsafe at times too, especially for those who are not in prime health. Tents
and pandals are usually set up at different places for pilgrims where food and
water is offered.
Routes
There are many travel packages which
also include overnight stay and sightseeing trip of Srinagar . The trip includes a journey from Srinagar to Baltal which
is 120 km and then a further 22km by walk. This is the most grueling part of
the trip. There are many popular routes as well. The Srinagar-Sonmarg-Amarnath
is one of the most commonly used ones. Some pilgrims also take the
Jammu-Pahalgam-Amarnath route. There is also the Jammu-Sonmarg-Amarnath route. However,
if you choose to undertake Amarnath Yatra by Helicopter, it will be much easier
and comfortable. There are 3 night – 4 day, 4 night – 5 day and 5 night – 6 day
tour packages available from tour operators. Some tours are customizable for
families or large groups.
Details and itineraries
Pilgrims can take pony or
helicopter rides instead of the grueling trek. This is especially advisable for
children and senior citizens. The helicopter ride to Amarnath is usually
provided from Baltal. The pilgrim huts at Baltal are a few minutes’ walk away
from the helipad. Palki and pony are available for those who don’t want to
walk. Some tour packages also include a houseboat stay following the visit to
Amarnath cave. The chopper services, one must note, are based on the weather
conditions. Also keep in mind that if due to bad weather, the chopper service
is not available on the day you have booked the ticket, you may need to spend
an additional night in the hotel at your own cost.
Tourists taking the chopper from
Baltal will be dropped at Panchtarni which is about 6km from Amarnath.
Depending on the route you take, you can also board choppers at Pahalgam. These
choppers too will take you only as far as Panchatarni. The drive from Jammu to Pahalgam is a
fascinating one, offering breathtaking views of the Valley of Kashmir Jammu
route is preferred by a lot of pilgrims. Some packages also include shikara
ride across the Dal
Lake Kashmir . It is important to check your
package details to see what is included and the features and places which are excluded
in your sightseeing itinerary.
