Amarnath Yatra 2019 Begins From July 1: Here' All You Need To Know About The Annual Pilgrimage

A journey that every Hindu pilgrim aspires to undertake during her/his lifetime, the Amarnath Yatra a journey to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, is high on every religious person's wish list. Amarnath Yatra is one of the tedious pilgrimages and neither horse nor palanquin goes to the shrine cave, you have to walk the entire route. The great pilgrimage is organised every year by the government of Jammu and Kashmir and sees thousands in attendance as they take the arduous journey to visit the naturally formed ice Lingam. Located 12,756 feet above sea level and at a distance of 141 kilometres from the capital Srinagar, it is a physically taxing journey that requires medical clearance before embarking upon. A pilgrimage can be planned via two routes --- Baltal to Amarnath cave and Pahalgam to Amarnath cave.

Pilgrims below 13 years of age and above 75 are advised not to undertake the journey.

Legend Of Amarnath

According to legend, Lord Shiva had chosen the particular place to reveal the secrets of the universe and immortality to his consort Parvati. Once goddess Parvati inquired of Lord Shiva the secret of his unending life while she herself was subject to death over and over again. The Lord replied that it was due to Amarkatha. On his consort's insistence, he started looking for an absolute lonely place where only Parvati could be privy to his revelation. However, despite Lord Shiva taking a number of steps to keep all living creatures out of that place and egg remain hidden under the fold of a deer skin on which he sat. Thus, a pair of pigeons emerged from that one egg, fully versed in the secrets of immortality and apparently can still be seen in the holy cave.

History Of The Cave

Rajatarangini, a book, refers to Amareshwara or Amarnath according to which it is believed that queen Suryamathi in the 11 century AD gifted tridents and other sacred emblems to the temple while the book Rajavalipataka by Prajayabhatta has detailed reference to the Amarnath cave pilgrimage.

The Lingam

Inside the 130 high feet cave, a stalagmite is formed due to freezing of water drops and grows up vertically from the cave floor. It is considered to be a lingam by devotees.

Amarnath Yatra 2019 Dates

Decided by the Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the 2019 Yatra dates start from July 1 and will continue till August 15.

Preparations For Amarnath Yatra Including Physical Requirements

Complete documentation and medical fitness are of utmost importance before embarking on the pilgrimage. Physical fitness is essential and a person should walk for at least 6 kilometres daily for almost 2-3 weeks before commencing the journey. People with lung diseases, high blood pressure, and cardiac disease should consult a doctor before going on the pilgrimage.

Documentation Needed For Amarnath Yatra

• Medical fitness certificate from a doctor authorised by SASB.
• Voter identification card, driving license, and passport for the verification of identity.

How To Reach Amarnath Shrine

While Pahalgam and Baltal are both well connected from all major cities, pilgrims prefer to begin their journey from Srinagar due to its easy accessibility from the airport, railway station and bus stands. From here, people can hire a taxi for Sonmarg or Baltal and can start their journey from there.

One can also commence from Pahalgam which is little over 90 kilometres from Srinagar.

From Baltal To Amarnath Cave

The more popular route with the virtue of it being the shortest, Baltal is only 14 kilometres from the cave. One can either trek it or take a helicopter. The helicopter covers the distance between Baltal and Panjtarni while the remaining 6 kilometres have to be trekked.

From Pahalgam To Amarnath Cave

Located a little over 90 kilometres from Srinagar and 47 kilometres from the cave site, the route first covers Chandanwari, 9,500 feet, around 16 km from the Pahalgam base camp. The next step is Pissu Top, 3 km away, located at 11,000 feet, followed by Shesnag around 9 km from Pissu Top. The next destination is Panjtarni, almost 12 km away from here, placed at 12,000 feet.

Don't MissAmarnath Yatra: These Tips Will Make Your Trip More Comfortable!

Stay With Other Pilgrims

When you are for Amarnath Yatra then do not be at haste. For your safety be in groups of pilgrims.

Don't Avoid Any Instruction Of Security Personnel

For your safety, thousands of security personnel are deployed en route Amarnath Yatra. Follow instructions and directives given by security personnel to avoid any foreseen incident.

IRCTC Package For Amarnath Yatra 2019

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a special tour package for the Amarnath Yatra from Chennai to the shrine site. The package includes a flight tour that will begin on July 20 and will reach Amarnath via Srinagar, Sonargaon and Nilgarh and return to Chennai. It includes to and fro economy class air tickets, stay for 2 nights in Sonmarg and 1 night at Srinagar and 3 vegetarian breakfast and dinner each by IRCTC. GST will be charged for the package.