Route to Amarnath
Traditional Route (via Pahalgam)
Jammu - Pahalgam - Chandanwari - Pissu Top - Sheshnag - Panjtarni - Amarnath Cave
Helicopter service is available from Pahalgam to Panjtarni. Panjtarni is 6 Km short of cave.
To reach Pahalgam from Jammu, one can either hire a cab directly or take a flight to Srinagar and then proceed to Pahalgam by road.
Distance of Pahalgam from Jammu: 315 Km
Distance of Pahalgam from Srinagar: 96 Km
The traditional route via Pahalgam is dotted with numerous tea-stalls, small restaurants and free langars by NGOs.
Pilgrims have to spend the first night at Pahalgam. Pahalgam has a range of hotels which one can choose from.
Chandanwari
16 Km ahead of Pahalgam is Chadanwari. Langars are run all along the route for pilgrims. During the yatra period, mini buses ply from Pahalgam to Chandanwari. You can either avail the bus service or trek to Chandanwari. It’s an easy trek up.
Pissu Top
Beyond Chandanwari, it’s a 3 Km steep climb to ‘Pissu Top’ which one has to cover on foot or pony.
Sheshnag
9 Km ahead of Pissu Top is Sheshnag. Generally, Sheshnag is where pilgrims take a night halt. Devotees take a dip in deep blue waters of the Sheshnag Lake before moving ahead the next morning.
Panjtarni (14 Km from Sheshnag)
From Sheshnag one has to take a steep climb of 4.6 Km to Mahagunas Pass (14000 Ft) from where the descent starts into the meadows of Panjtarni which is approximately 9 Km ahead.
Amarnath cave (6 Km from Panjtarni)
On way to the holy cave, one comes across the ‘sangam’ of Amravati and Panjtarni rivers. A no. of devotees take a dip here before proceeding for darshans.
After ‘darshans’ at the holy cave, one needs to return to Panjtarni the same day as there is no accommodation near the holy cave.
Alternate, Shorter route (via Sonamarg)
Jammu - Srinagar - Sonamarg - Baltal - Domel - Barari - Amarnath Cave
From Jammu/Delhi, one can reach Srinagar by air. One can also drive up from Jammu to Srinagar. This route is connected by road till Baltal via Sonamarg.
From Baltal it is a 14 Km trek to the holy cave via Domel and Barari.
Helicopter service is available from Neelgrath (near Baltal) to Panjtarni. Panjtarni is 6 Km short of the holy cave.
