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It is believed that reciting the solah somvar vrath which means the 16 fasting Mondays makes shiva happy and he blessed his devotees with happiness.

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While traveling to Amarnath there are many restaurants in the way. There are 5 top restaurants in Amarnath

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The fast observed on that day is also known as someshwar vart. It means god of soma i.e god of moon which is called lord shiva.

visit amarnath

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The most surprising thing is that the Amaranth cave is the houses of a nature lingam made up of snow. The lingam waxes and wanes with the lunar cycle and this is considered a miracle of nature and the power of lord Shiva.

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The Amarnath cave is said to be re-discovered by Buta Malik, a Muslim shepherd from Batakot.

The story says that while moving about with his herd of sheep, the shepherd lost track of his herd. He went searching around for his herd of sheep and while doing so, came across an old saint who handed over a bag full of charcoal to Buta Malik. After returning home with the bag of Charcoal Buta Malik found to his utter surprise that the charcoal had been transformed to gold. He quickly returned to the place where he had left the saint in order to thank him but in place of the saint he found a cave in that spot which later came to be known as the ‘Amarnath cave’.

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Amarnath Yatra starts every year at the end of June or the first week of July and continues till August. This is the best time to visit Amarnath. The Tirtha (pilgrimage) begins with the Pahalgam in Kashmir. Chandanwari, at a distance of 16-km from Pahalgam, is the base camp for the annual pilgrimage. Welcome to Visit Amarnath- one-stop platform for everything you need to know about Amarnath.

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What is special about Vaishno Devi: Story & Belief of the pilgrimage

Maa Vaishno Devi's story is as magical as the fulfilment of hundreds of wishes and boons of many of her devotees who keep visiting Maa's abode at Trikuta to pay their respects.  

The story of a young girl named Vaishnavi was created by merging the power of Mahadevis, i.e., Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and MahaSaraswati. She was incarnated to end the terror of Asuras. Tridevis' accumulated their power and energy into one and thereby emerged a beautiful girl. They named her Vaishnavi and directed her to uphold righteousness, do penance and help restore peace to the Earth. 

History of Vaishno Devi Shrine 

Vaishno Devi Shrine is believed to be of million years old, as per geological evidence. The earliest mention of the Cave can be found in Rigveda (the oldest Vedic Sanskrit text). In the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna and the rest of the Pandavas are advised by Lord Krishna to seek her blessings first before going to war.  

After winning the war, it is said that the Pandavas were the ones who built the temple at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan in gratitude. The five rock structure nearby the Trikuta mountains symbolises the five Pandavas.   

Besides this, the temple also has three Pindies. These Pindies are of different colours and are referred to as the Tridevi. The Shrine is also a Shaktipeeth, for this is where the skull of Maa Sati fell. The Holy Shrine is famous for its miraculous happenings, and wishful offering by Mata to whosoever comes and seeks her blessings. Mata never let their devotees go empty-handed. A visit to her Shrine is possible only when Maa summons you. 

With this belief, devotees flock in number to her abode every day. Their undying faith in Maa Vaishno Devi is such that no height and hill makes them go back unless they get Mata's Darshan first. 

Story of Vaishno Devi 

Vaishnavi was born to Raja Ratnakar and his wife, ruling the southern part of India.  

Vaishnavi was very talented since childhood. Her curiosity to learn and gain knowledge kept increasing daily; one day, in search of truth and self, she relinquished all worldly comfort and went to perform penance. 

A devotee of Vishnu, Vaishnavi is also associated with the story of Lord Ram, where she is said to await his arrival in the Kalyuga. As the story goes, Vaishnavi had an encounter with Lord Ram, who was in search of his wife, Sita. Vaishnavi presented her wish to marry him. Lord Ram told her that after his exile ends, he will return to this route again, and if she recognises him, he will grant her wish. However, Vaishnavi failed to recognise him upon his arrival. Lord Ram, impressed with her devotion, directed her to set up an Ashram at the foot of Trikuta Hills to elevate her spiritual level to bless humankind and rid the poor and needy of their sufferings.  

Temple of Vaishno Devi 

Maa Vaishno Devi temple lies on the Trikuta hills in Katra. Katra is approx 46 km away from Jammu. It will take around an hour or so to arrive at this base camp which is just a 13-km trek away, to make it to the top. Once you are here, you must take a registration slip available at the counter. After receiving the slip only, you will be allowed to cross the first checkpoint further. Options of staying are available at Bhawan. You can either rent the room or avail the free space for your stay. 

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Amarnath Yatra Tips - Do's and Don'ts During Amarnath Yatra

Amarnath Yatra is a holy pilgrimage undertaken by thousands of Hindu pilgrims to get a glimpse of Lord Shiva's most famous and naturally formed Shivling made of snow. Due to its natural ice formation, Lord Shiva is also known as Baba Barfani. It is said that whosoever gets the Darshan of Baba Barfani, they attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and death.  

What's more special is that the divinity can be worshipped only during specific months when it is comparatively easy to reach here. The month of Shravan, dear to Lord Shiva, is when the trek routes open and devotees throng in thousands to scale the trail and reach Amarnath Gufa.  

Arriving here is no child's play. And so, even with all the facilities and safety net provided to make the Yatra easily accessible and reachable, there are things to remember during Amarnath Yatra. 

Do's and Don'ts During Amarnath Yatra 

This year the Yatra began on June 30, 2022, and will conclude on August 11, 2022. Many batches of Yatris have left already. Considering the challenging route and the harsh weather conditions, these are the essential tips for Amarnath Yatra. 

Do's 

Do carry an identity card and yatra permit. 

Keep a hard copy of your Yatra permit, as digital tickets are not acceptable and an identity card. 

Pack heavy woollen warm clothes 

Bring cold-weather jackets, sweaters, long bottoms like socks, scarves for your neck, warm hats and big umbrellas because you never know when those could come in handy! 

Keep Your Physical Fitness in check. 

Looking after your physical well-being is essential to completing the Amarnath Yatra easily. Make sure you walk for 4 to 5 km at least a month before. 

Boost your energy with power-packed snacks  

Consider bringing snacks along for the long journey to boost energy during the Amarnath Yatra, such as dried fruit, glucose biscuits, jaggery (sugar candy), dark chocolate, etc. 

Carry an emergency kit 

A first-aid kit is important because you never know when it can come in handy. You will find medical facilities on your way. However, it is better to prepare for yourself and others in advance. 

Don'ts 

Do not Litter 

Maintain a hygienic situation at all costs. Do not throw garbage and plastic wherever you please. Keep the place tidy and clean, and make sure you respect your environment. 

Eating Non-veg and Alcohol 

Since this is a sacred pilgrimage, refrain from eating non-vegetarian foods and drinking booze.  

Avoid taking any shortcuts. 

Make sure you stay in groups and do not deflect from your path. 

Do not avoid warning signs and abide by the laid-out rules. 

Trying something on your own is dangerous because you don't know the routes very well.  

Please do not use any plastic as it is strictly banned. 

This is so as not to disturb nature's environment and ecological balance. If you try to do so, it will be punishable under the law. 

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Important things to carry for Amarnath Yatra 2022

Amarnath Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Cave of Baba Barfani. As soon as the door to Lord Shiva's abode opens in the month of Shravan, devotees gear up to trek the most exciting journey of their life - to seek the blessings of the Immortal one. Lord Shiva arrived at Amarnath Gufa to narrate the story of Immortality to his consort Parvati. While arriving here, he gave up on all the worldly attachments and embellishments adorning his body, such as Chandradev, Ganga, Nandi, Vasuki, and even his son Ganesha.  

Devotees are offered two routes to trek the journey of Amarnath Yatra. One is the most traditional route, that is Pahalgam. This is the most preferred route for devotees as the journey takes them to all the destinations with which the mythical spots are associated. However, the journey from here is lengthier and takes 2-3 days to cover back and forth. The other shorter route, Baltal, takes only a day or two.  

Apart from that, heli-services are available for those having difficulty with trekking and walking long distances. While the routes: shorter or longer, easy or difficult, do not deter the will of pilgrims, there are things to be noted for Amarnath Yatra. Tips and tricks, essentials to carry, make sure you pack these Amarnath Yatra accessories: 

Pack warm clothes 

Yes. The most important and first thing you should do is to pack light woollen clothes. In this region, you can experience sub-zero temperatures, and surely you do not want to fall sick as soon as you arrive.  

2. Keep a water bottle. 

Dehydration is the most common symptom for those who venture out to trek the long-distance journey. And Amarnath Yatra is full of sloppy and rocky terrain. As such, you must use reusable water bottles and keep yourself hydrated. 

3. Carry a first-aid kit 

High altitude sickness is pretty common when you are on your way to Amarnath Gufa. Moreover, the chances of minor scratches, bruises, and accidents are also high when making your way to the top through the rough slopes. Therefore, a medical kit - must have. 

4. Carry identity card and Yatra permit 

You surely wouldn't want to reach the base camp without having your id card on you. Make sure you carry a Yatra permit and any id card to begin your Yatra hassle-free. 

5. Energy-packed food & snacks 

Preparatory foods are necessary to refuel your body's energy. At any point of the journey, if you may feel exertion or exhaustion, these pocket-friendly snacks will be there to save your day. 

6. Torch with a spare battery 

Now, a journey to the unknown and rarely visited sites definitely calls for a torch and spare battery. One can't expect lighting facilities all the way to the destinations, so reserve some space for flashlights. 

7. Trekking shoes and stick 

Give a comfy sole to support your gait. Trekking shoes provide comfort to your feet and offer traction to scale the rough terrain. Also, keep a trekking stick to navigate your path easily. 

8. Sunscreen/ Insect repellent 

Daytime calls for applying sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn, whereas insect repellants keep you safe from bugs and insects during the night when it's time to sleep. 

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