Search for GOD started with the dawn of creation. For this many visited saints birth places,some to the pilgrimage of idols or emblems representing them,some to the temples and we cannot deny the fact that still in this world u may find people who do not believe in the SUPERNATURAL ALMIGHTY.I want to repeat again that the knowledge shared is not at all been to hurt anyone’s sentiments or the feelings shared by him.

Something about INDIASomething about INDIA

India boasts of thousandsyrs of cultural& natural heritage

•86 national parks

•448wildlife reserves

•More than 2.4 million temples, mosques, church

India has long been known as the land of saints, temples, spiritual and religious believes. the land of myth or blind faith. the land of superstition the land of finest poets, writers, artists, craftsmen the land where great epics been written which lay the foundation of modern times.

India being a secular home to all communities with hinduism being practiced in majority around 80% serves more than 1bn people comprising total popn of India. Muslims,sikhs,jains,christians,refugees comprises of the rest nation. Each has its own pilgrimage, heroes, legends and even culinary specialities.

Day 1

• Mata CHINTPURNI

Significance: smallest of all nine sisters nobody can take prasad for his relatives n frens if going on further pilgrimage

• Mata kangra devi

Significance: a river flows by side named gupt ganga.

There is a child in every one of us, be it a There is a child in every one of us, be it a teenager, an adult or a well grown person.we not teenager, an adult or a well grown person.we not only want to enjoy going back to our childhood only want to enjoy going back to our childhood but also not to leave the leisure of teasing & but also not to leave the leisure of teasing & irritating the counterpart. I wanted to explain this irritating the counterpart. I wanted to explain this in d context that how we enjoyed & leisured in d context that how we enjoyed & leisured bathing in gupt ganga. How all the uncles were bathing in gupt ganga. How all the uncles were having fun, sprinkling water on each other like a having fun, sprinkling water on each other like a kid.kid.

Mata JWALAJISignificance: hundreds of lights burning on water and still water remains cold.By far we might have advanced so much in the field of scientific researches but there is still a mystery that from where all these lights being emerging from the past thousand years in around and under water.The amazing thing about this is being hundreds of lights burning still water remain cold. The thing is no matter how far we go ahead we remain always under the hands of nature& we cannot challenge it.

Day 2

MATA CHAMUNDAJIUniqueness: besides there is

another temple of an aghodi sadhu. The uniqueness abt these sadhus is that they eat anything to survive,bath in the cremation ashes and drinks in a bowl of human skullThe aghori sub-sect still hold to it as a daily reminder of human mortality and as a challenge to transcend the duality of life and death.

Day 2

MATA VAISHNODEVI

one of the well known pilgrimage for over thousand years. Nothing to tell much about,most of us have been there.

Day 3

Above all difficulties & problems faced during the trek when u atlast reach the cave “it is all matter of 5secs” .with queue moving u too move ahead.u do not realise that ur pilgrimage is over to mata vaishno devi.The basic idea of telling is, u go with so much of desires to attain the blessing of their idols they worship&what they get is 5secs. “IT IS JUST THE MATTER OF INTERNAL SATISFACTION THAT U GET THE WHOLE WORLD IN A MOMENT AND U DON’T GET ANYTHING RUNNING RUNNING FOR HIM FOR THE WHOLE LIFE”.

• SHIV KHODI:Absolutely wonderful and fantabulous place to visit atleast once in a life time.It is not a well popular place but still has much of its importance.Around 5-6km trek but when we reach there it is more than just a pilgrimage. Prasad is of bhang &dhatura.There is still not permanent provision of electricity n we have to carry torch along.

Day 4

It is not easy to get our worship blessed,it can again be proved reaching there.The enterance of the cave is so narrow that one has to literally crawl on elbows n knees to enter,and once u reach is a total new scenario.Somehow there is some provision of electricity inside.

• Emblem wid gangaji• 33 crore dieties• Passage to heaven• Passage to amarnathji• Emblem of sheshnagMany more

Day 4

Whole day journey.reach pahalgam.

May start from pahalgam

Day 6

If from baltal.

Stay at pahalgam.enjoy nature’s beauty.

Local sight seeing.River raft.

Day 5 & 6

Start for sringar. Paradise on earth• Shalimar bagh• Dilshad garden• Dal lake• House boats• Shikara• Shankaracharya temple• Masterpieces of handicraft• Cuisine

Day 7

Day 8Start from srinagar & reach basecamp at baltal. Hire a tent costing around 500/head /night. The army personnel are there to help with medical aid & any assistance.

The localiets at camp although helpful but may charge u higher amount taking advantage of your situation but we cannot deny the fact that it is the only time period for them to earn in the whole year.

Day 9

The day arrived which had been much awaited.One can go on foot or by horse/pony.The trek was arduous but I was spurred on by the zeal of my faith.

This might be the xperience of 1000s of pilgrims who were slowly & excitedly traversing the difficult trek xchanging the greetings of jai bhole ki, bam bam bhole. The fatigue of arduous trek was evident at noon when the sun was at its peak but the pleasantaries provided us the confidence to reach to HIM.

Reaching the top, looking at the naturally built ice-stalagmite it is felt that all the obstructions, obstacles,the fatigue &immense exhaustnesswere the sins of my life and that I have overcome all of those and now a better purified soul.

• Infact one can go talking to people walking the distance along. It is like a huge family walking towards the same destination.people were not only from northern states but also from far ends of Maharashtra, gujrat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Karnataka, Karnal, Noida, Lucknow. Almost looked like national integrating yatra. People from different states, speaking different languages but chanting the same mantra of Lord Shiv eating the same lunger, staying in the same tents, many might have exchanged addresses also.

Once the devotee’s or tourist’s mind a set on the visit, the efforts to reach their begins in right earnest. One of the most important pilgrimage in hindu’s itinary the formidable path to the holy shrine situated does not deflect them.

Not withstanding the threat from millitants or the incliment weather, not withstanding the difficult terrain and arduous trek, difficulties and problem at steps, fatigue faced by the pilgrims; the reason for the visit was clear.

However, until you undertake the yatra you cannot experience the thrill of an adventure, the delight of a tourist and the feeling of a devotee, it is truly exhilarating.

The journey was over ; yesssssss back again to that same world, cut throat competition, corruption, every moment a new problem with no solution, back to the family, friends, leisure, entertainment, back again to the daily routine and difficulties.

Sometimes I think is there anything more than a life???

I got the solutionIf I were to explain my whole journey in one word,

would that be – SALVATION.

I would like to thank all my co-pilgrims, sadhus, localites, the military personnel who were guarding us.

And I would like to give my special thanks to Mr. Rahul Navet who helped me compiling this powerpoint presentation.

Also not to forget I want to thank myself for having patience and honoured to search a few things about. HIM.

REGISTRATIONREGISTRATION

• Applications for Yatra should be sent to nearest registration office

• Two passport size photographs• A self addressed pre-stamped envelope(speed

post)• A medical fitness certificate from an atleast

MBBS doctor each yatri is issued a registration-cum-identity slip by authority,to carry during yatra

• Insurance:pilgrims advised to get insured

Some useful tipsSome useful tips

Check the things before u start• Water• Glucose biscuit& health drink• Torch• Raincoat• Military shoes• Woolens (jackets pref)• Light eatables• Monkey cap

Ladies are advised not to trek in sarees instead in pants or salwar kameez

Medical assistance: advised to take any prescribed medicines along,else there is a provision of qualified doctors &nursing staff. There are military camps also at every stoppage for any assistance

Provisions: ration &other eatables are available at fair rates. Also one can enjoy lots of langars wayside

Accommodation: good tented acc.are set up at the time of pilgrimage at sheshnag,panchtarni,chandanwari.

Insurance:in view of hazardous nature,pilgrims are advised to get insured

Carrying or use of alcohol is strictly prohibited

•Try not to overstrain on steep gradients.•Do not relax at pts where is warning notice.Try not to overstrain on steep gradients.•Do not relax at pts where is warning notice.•No yatri will be allowed without a registration card

Some useful tipsSome useful tips

Yatra SignificanceThe Legend about the importance of Amarnath Cave is as follows :

• This is The Cave which was chosen by Bhole Shankar for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe to Maa Parvati ji . The story goes like this . Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Shiv ji to let her know why and when He started wearing the beads of heads ( Mund Mala) . Bhole Shankar replied when ever you are born I add one more head in my beads . Maa Parvati said ," My Lord, my body is destroyed every time and I die again and again, but you are Immortal. Please let me know the secret of this ." Bhole Shankar replied that it is due to Amar Katha ."

• Maa Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. For long Shiva ji continued postponing . Finally on consistent demand from Maa Parvati He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret . He started for lonely place where no living being could listen it . He choose Amarnath Cave . In preparation to that He left His Nandi ( The Bull which He used to ride ) at Pahalgam (Bail gaon) . At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag He released the snakes . He decided to leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill ) . At Panjtarni, Shivji left the Five Elements behind (Earth , Water, Air , Fire and Sky) which make living being . He is the Lord of these elements. It is believed that as a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world , Shivaji and Maa Parvati had Tandav Dance . After leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar enters the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati Maa.

Yatra Significance

• Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi and concentrate . To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale , He created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire to eliminate every living thing in and around the Holy Cave . After this He started narrating the secret of immortality to Maa Parvati . But as a matter of chance on one egg which was lying beneath the Deer skin remained protected . It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati Asan (Bed) . The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar Katha). Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons when they trek the arduous route to pay their obeisance before the Ice-Lingam (the phallic symbol of Shiva).

Yatra Significance

FROM JAMMU VIA PAHALGAM•Jammu-pahalgam: 320kms,8-9hrs drive•Pahalgam-chandanwari: 16kms,2hrs drive•Chandanwari-sheshnag: 13km trek•Sheshnag-panchtarni: 11km trek•Panchtarni-CAVE: 6km trek

TRADITIONAL ROUTE

TRADITIONAL ROUTE

• FROM JAMMU VIA BALTAL

•Jammu – udhampur – kud – patnitop – rambaan – banihal – anantnaag – srinagar – sonmarg – baltal

400 km drive, stoppage at above listed places, any.

•Baltal – cave : 14 km trek

When to go• During July-Aug.dates may vary according to

lunar pattern.

Getting thereAirwayNearest pnt is srinagar. Frm there can go via

pahalgam or baltal by taxi,bus or lift.RailNearest point is Jammu,300 kms dist. Covered by

taxi,bus.