AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE , Natural ICY Shiv linga Part - 2

Amarnath route - 

Amarnath Ice Linga cave is situated at the height of 13,500 ft or 3,952 meter in Middle Himalaya in a gorge (a narrow valley with steep sides and a river running through it) at the farther end of Lidder valley. 

This place is 46 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar. 

To go to Amarnath je there are 2 routes – 1 from Srinagar - Pahalgam and the 2 is from Sonamarg - Baltal. 

This pilgrim is 46 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar, the provincial capital of Jammu and Kashmir. 

From Baltal Amarnath je is 9.4 km. Sonamarg is situated at the height of 3,000 meter or about 10,000 feet. 

It is situated on the Srinagar – Leh- Laddakh highway 85 km northeast of Srinagar. The Baltal base camp is 15 km from highway.

The Amarnath journey starts in the auspicious Hindi month of Sharavan (July – August).  

This is the month of Lord Shiva or Amarnath je. 

Worshiping Shiva in this moth gives his blessings quickly or can say he pleased soon. 

I started my journey from Delhi via train in the month of July. 

Most of the passengers of the train were going to Amarnath je. 

The atmosphere was very charged and very religious. 

Slogans were renting in the air time to time. 

Everyone in the train was charged and happy. 

In the night our train started and I with my friends was happy. 

It was raining and we took our seat. Next day in the morning we all woke up with outside beautiful scenario. 

Changing landscapes, bridges, greenery was taking us towards Himalaya. 

Yes Himalaya was calling with the name of Amarnath je. 

Soon we reached Jammu. 

That day we stopped at Jammu and workout our plan. We hired a MUV and next day in the morning by 5 am we started our journey.

From Jammu to Srinagar the distance was 284.3 km, now due to new tunnel at Patnitop the distance shortened by 30 km. So now one has to cover 254.3 km to reach Pahalgam by road. This route takes 8 hours 26 minutes has tolls.  

There is another route via NH 144A, it is 350 km long. It takes 10 hours 27 minutes, which has toll. 

Arrangements for pilgrim - 

Government’s arrangement was superb as always. 

Security was at its heights. There were Para Military forces everywhere. 

There were free foods of super quality for each and every pilgrim during the whole route from Jammu to Amarnath Cave, because this pilgrim is known as Shiva’s marriage and the people going to this pilgrim are seen as the groom’s companion (Barati – one who goes with the groom in his marriage party to bride’s house). 

The social origination's , who serve free food saw themselves from Bride’s side, means the people of Himalaya (Father – in – Law of Lord Shiva) and they do their best to serve and welcome those who are coming in this pilgrim (seen as Barati). 

All pure vegetarian foods are served with many types of sweets and saffron milk. 

I was stunned seeing how people of different social services are serving with all passion and dedication without anyone’s guidance.

Even they were cleaning the used plates without hesitation and with full respect. Pilgrim, those who were in different vehicles were getting food stuffs and water in a use and through paper plates which again those serving people were collecting with all enthusiasm. 

During the whole pilgrim period of 1 month these people work with all dedication and love. 

Once you reached in the pilgrim you will not be called by your name; each people calls another as Bhole (name of lord Shiva) with respect and love. 

I was called “Bhole” how are you? And I answer that man Bhole I am fine.   

Our journey started with the famous slogan of Lord Shiva,”Har Har Mahadev”. 

And my team started his journey. 

Via Pahalgam route -  

The atmosphere was charged with great slogan shouting’s of thousands of   devotees (Bhakt) of Shiva,“Jai Baba Barfani, Bhukhe Ko Bhojan , Pyase Ko Pani” (Jai ICE lord, you give food to hungry and water to thirsty). 

Har Har Mahadev, Jai Bhole etc. 

In this super charged environment with all enthusiasm and with the name of BABA BARFANI, we started our journey by 5 am which was going to take more than 8 hours. Our vehicle runs towards Pahalgam. 

There were Para military check points everywhere. 

Clearing them we speed up towards our destination. 

In the morning I got some stomach problem, a pain; so I decided not to eat anything. 

After running 2 and half hour our vehicle was stopped by a social originations unit (who serve quality pure free food). 

They came with two environment friendly leaf plate full of cooked edibles and give it to me. 

With folded hands I said that man” Bhole I am not well, there is pain in my stomach and eating anything can be harmful” he said “Bhole this is Lord Shiva’s Sacrament (Prasad), don’t say no to it; take it and you will be fine.” 

I took the ‘Sacrament or Prasad’ by bowing my head towards it. 

Our vehicle moved only few meters another man appeared running towards us with 2 - 3 plates of Prasad in his hand and put 1in my hand and other plates towards my friends. 

I took it with all respect and the vehicle moved on. 

I passed one of the plates towards my friends and started eating my plate with all respect. 

The route is going through mountains so vehicle was going slow. 

I was enjoying the journey, the scenes and the Himalaya. 

Crossing Nagrota, Jagti, Udhampur, and beautiful Patnitop all of us were feeling blessed. 

After crossing Ramban the driver said to me, sir, we are going to enter into Banihal and we will go through Jawahar tunnel or Banihal tunnel. 

That time it was India’s longest road tunnel, 2.85 km long. 

And the tunnel came. We saw it with all delight our vehicle entered into it and we all were feeling thrilled. 

Soon we crossed the tunnel with all delight because till date we had read it in books only, and now we had seen it too. 

In past I had crossed through many tunnels but not as long as this is. After crossing the tunnel we entered into the area Qazigund. 

Due to tough hilly road vehicle was moving easily and there were Para military forces everywhere. 

Sudden my eyes go on the mountains side of road and I saw writing upon it in White ‘Beware Shooting Zone’. 

I became alert and I asked the driver, Singh Sabah, What is this? 

He replied with smile on his face don’t worry sir, it’s not the terrorists shooting which you are thinking; it’s the shooting of stones, Stones tremble down from mountains because Himalaya is new mountain and has not settled; so they fall in any size big, small or in both. 

I said it’s more dangerous than the shooting of guns, he said yes.

The 14 km long shooting zone was really dangerous and we saw some stone falling in front of us too. 

Only after covering that zone we get easy. 

At many places we stopped and took water and food. 

I was feeling good with the grace of Lord Shiva. 

Soon we reached Anantnag. 

This city was constructed during Emperor Ashoka of Mauryan dynasty. Srinagar was also built during Ashoka. 

From Anantnag, Pahalgam is only 41 km via NH 501 and from Anantnag Srinagar is 58 km on Kanayakumari NH.  

By 3 pm we reached Pahalgam. 

We stayed in a beautiful atmosphere. 

There was security all over. 

We decided to start our foot journey from Chandanwari next day. 

Pahalgam 8,990 ft or 2,740 meter) is 16 km from  Chandanwari.

Distance - From Chandanwari the distance of Amarnath je cave is (Distance one place to another place) – 

Chandanwari (9500ft or 2895 meter) - 3 km Pissu Top (11,500 ft or 3,377 meter) – Zogi Bal – Naga Koti - 9 km Sheshnag (11,730 ft or 3,352 meter) – War Bal- 4.6 km Mahaganus Top (14,800 ft or 4,276 meter) – Pabalbal – 6 km Panchtarni (12,729 ft or 3,657 meter) - 3 km Sangam – 3 km Amarnath cave 13,500 ft or 3,952 meter. 

Total journey of Amarnath je from Chandanwari is 30 km.