Report and pictures of Amarnath Ji Yatra 2012

Hi all ,
I am just back from the Amarnath Yatra 2012 (24th June to 29th June 2012)
Want to share my experience with all.
This is my first write up for any type of journey; there may be many mistakes and grammatical errors please forgive me for all these.
This was my 11th Amarnath Yatra. First time I went in the year 1998 in Yatra Bus and then regularly every year since 2003.Usually I travel with a group of 7-8 friends and approximately half of them changes every year. Generally we hire the Taxi (Innova/ Tavera) from our home station (Ambala Cantt) for the whole tour. It takes us 6-7 days to complete the tour in Taxi. Hiring taxi for the whole tour is very comfortable, but little expansive.
As soon as the News of Yatra starts, I start planning for Amarnath Yatra with my friends. So, first of all we fixed the date of 24 June to start the journey as we want to do Darshan in the first week itself and when the registration starts in first week of May I arrange 5 registration form from J&K Bank for 26th June 2012.Two registrations were taken Online for the same date. Advantage of the registration form taken from the Bank is that you get blank form which can be filled later by the finalized yatries but for online; you have to fill complete details of Yatri on the time of registration itself. Now it was the time to finalize the persons for Yatra and the problem starts here. Total 10 people became ready for this year Yatra; some were interested via Baltal route and other from Pahalgam route. Confusion was not sorted out till last. I decided to left the group and go on train with my friend and permanent companion Sushil Malhotra (it was his 10th Yatra and 8th with me). My friend gets ready for this new experience. So we finalized to catch the Sarvodya Express from Ambala which departs from Ambala at 8:00 AM and reaches Jammu Tawi at 2:45 PM. Time was too short to get confirm seats and we left all on Lord Shiva and decided to go in General “Jo hoga dekha jayega”. So finally the date of 24th June comes.

Jaldi se Baba Amarnath ke darshan karwaiye ! We are eagerly waiting for your next write up.

Introduction is superb!

Hope, the next episode would follow soon!

Me and my wife have also planned to go for Amarnath Yatra on 9th July 2012 via baltal route.
@nareshsahgal. Can you let me know about accomodation details in Baltal/Sonmarg? How to book it? Also any good budget accomodation in Srinagar.
I will be reaching Srinagar at around 11 AM on 9th july.

You would be required to report to the Base camp at Baltal where you would get tent-accommodation. There is on the spot booking and you would get accommodation there.

Day1:
I get up early in the morning and ask my wife to prepare and pack lunch for two person’s .Bag was already packed at night. I left home at 7AM.My friend has reached Railway station before me and have bought the Train tickets. Train was running at time and we were mentally prepare for heavy rush in General compartment. The train arrives on time and we rushed to the General compartment. To our surprise there was no rush in the train and we got seats near window in just few seconds. We were very relieved that up to Jammu there is no tension. The train departed on time. There are only three stoppages for this train for 400 KM journey. These are Ludhiana, Jalandhar and ChakkiBank. The train reached at JammuTawi Railway station at 3PM.After taking launch we search for the auto/ Mini Van for Bhagwati Nagar Base camp. I have already searched the location of Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Google earth, so the location was in my mind. There was second option, if you don’t get the direct conveyance from railway station, go to bus stand and from Jewel Chowk you can find multiple options for Yatri Niwas. We found a mini bus which was going to Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas directly. I ask the fare from bus conductor and he said that he is charging Rs. 30 per head, I offer him Rs 50 for two people and he became ready and ask us to take seats. Bus was filled with Amarnath Yatris in few minutes. In the Bus I came to know that he is charging Rs.20 per person from other people. Any way in just 15 minutes we reached at Bhagwati Nagar. There is fool proof security at Bhagwati Nagar. Our bags were checked three times manually and one time by X-ray machine before entering the Yatri Niwas. Our registrations were also checked. JKSRTC has opened one counter at Yatri Niwas from where peoples were buying bus tickets for Pahalgam and Baltal route for tomorrow morning journey. Tickets were being issued only after checking the registration cards and Yatra dates. We also buy two tickets for Baltal route. Person at ticket counter ask us to take your seats in Bus before 3:30 AM. There was a huge rush of pilgrims in the Yatri Niwas. All basic facilities are available in the Yatri Niwas for pilgrims. Peoples were coming continuously at Yatri Niwas and rush was increasing. We were roaming here and there carrying our bags. Due to our bags we were not feeling free. We found no locker facility at Yatri Niwas. We came out of the Yatri Niwas to roam in the adjoining market. One person came to us and asks if we want a room for Night. We decided to book a room so that we can get rid of our bags and can sleep peacefully at night. Actually resident of nearby colony offer their rooms for yatris at reasonable price. We checked the room. There was air cooler in the room so we booked the room for Rs.150 for a night. We left our bags there and went to the market. After taking dinner at Bhandara (Community Kitchen) we return to room at 9 PM. Around 11 PM we got sleep.

how to load pictures ?? No clue. Pls help.

Very easy!
See the details at thread how to insert photos in a thread!

Day2:
We wake up at 3 AM and left the room. Room was just approximate 300 meters away from Yatri Niwas. After brushing teeth, we took tea and Rusk from Bhandara. Then we searched the Bus no. 3 in which we were allotted seats. We were the last persons to enter the Bus. Many buses and private vehicles were standing there and were waiting for start of convoy. After long wait Convoy started at 5:15 PM. Convoy is leaded by an army vehicle called pilot vehicle.5-6 more army vehicles were with the convoy. Around 9.30 AM convoy stopped near Kud for breakfast at one Bhandara .After taking breakfast our bus again started. All the buses of convoy run at slow speed. They are safest for hilly journey but take too much extra time. First 200 KM from Jammu is totally hilly area and the next 100KM (Kazikund to Srinagar) is totally plane area. Normally the taxies cover the distance of 300 KM between Jammu and Srinagar in 9-10 hrs. Our bus took complete 12hrs to reach Srinagar. Our bus was stopped by one police party at Srinagar and asks to go back as there was some stone pelting incidence on the road. Later we came to know that some fire was broken out at some old Sufi Dargah due to which local persons were creating disturbances in the area. All buses returned 15 Km and took the Gulmarg Bypass road. All this exercise waste one hour. I was sure that we will not reach Baltal in the evening because we were too late to cross Manigam Camp .Generally all the Yatra vehicles moving towards Baltal are stopped at Manigam Yatra camp after 5 PM. Manigam lies in Ganderbal district and 35 Km away from Srinagar. As feared our buses were stopped at Manigam camp. Many vehicles were already parked there. Our bus driver told us that the buses will leave for Baltal next morning at 6.30 AM. There are lots of tents available for night rest. 3-4 Bhandaras are also available there for food and snacks. We took our bags and book one tent @100 per head. Then after taking dinner at Bandara we came to our tent for sleep.

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Fare list of baltal and pahalgam

Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar,Jammu.

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Day 3:
We get up early at 5:30 AM and completed daily routines. Then we decided to take bath so that we may get ready for tracking. The water was very chilled but we took bath. Then we change the clothes and wear the woolens. After taking tea and biscuits we rushed to our Bus. Announcements were already being made on PA system that convoy is ready to move, please take your seats in your vehicles. Convoy started at 7AM but there was heavy rush on the road and there were frequent traffic jams. It took us 4hrs to cover the next 60 Kms. Around 1 km before Baltal, there is security check post where every person and his belongings are checked thoroughly. Due to this check post there was a long traffic jam around 1.5 km long. We decided to walk up to check post because vehicles were not moving at all. After we came down from the bus all passengers from the bus followed us. We reached the check post and after checking we continued to walk and did not wait for the bus. After walking 1 more KM we reached at Baltal. There was one another check post at Baltal and we were again thoroughly checked. After checking we decided to start the tracking without wasting any time. Time was 12.15 AM. After half an hour we reached at Domel point. Domel is 2 Km away from Baltal bus stand where the CRPF has put a barrier. Barrier was closed and no one was allowed to proceed for Yatra. Around 100 odd peoples gathered at Domel barrier and were requesting them to let them go. After 15 minutes of persuasion CRPF personnel allowed us to proceed. We went to Barfani Sewa Mandal Bhandara, which is after barrier and kept our bags there. BTW, we are proud members of this Bhandara for last 13 years. We took only raincoats and woolens with us and left all other things at this place. From this point (Domel), Holy cave is about 12 KM. the mountain track started from here. Snow and Glaciers were available besides the track. There are some steep rises & falls on the way, as compared to the Chandanwari route. Pilgrims can return back to base camp Baltal through this route only in one day if tracking can be started early in the morning.

After continued tracking we reached Barari at 4 PM and after taking rest for 10 minutes we again started track. There was Jam at one place due to one Glacier. We took the new short cut after Barari which bypass the Sangam Velly and reaches directly to Cave. Around 7 PM we reached the camps, 1 KM before the Holy cave. We were so tired that we booked one tent @ Rs200 per person for one night. Darshan at Holy cave are stopped at 7PM due to aarti. Darshan are open again n the morning after 7 AM. SO this was rest time for Lord Shiva and for us also. Atmosphere was very cold and temperature was near freezing point. We took the quilts and laid down for sleep. It was very cold and I started shivering under single quilt so we decided to join our quilts. We were so tired that we could not go for dinner available just 50 mts away. We both took Combiflame and slept.

Myself posing at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas.