How to Reach Amarnath

Located at about 3,888 m above sea level, Amarnath Cave is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. Amarnath Yatra begins every year on the auspicious day of Skanda Shasti in June/July and ends in Shravan Purnima, the day of Raksha Bandhan in August. Amarnath Yatra 2023 starts on 1st July 2023 (tentative) and lasts till 31st  August 2023.

Thousands of pilgrims from all over India visit Amarnath to seek the blessings of ‘Baba Barfani, also known as Amarnath. Also, two major routes lead to the divine caves of Amarnath. If you are looking for a spiritual trip to Amarnath, then scroll down to get detailed information about how to reach Amarnath.

Here are the best routes and comprehensive information about how to reach Amarnath by train, flight, and road.

Amarnath Yatra By Flight

Sheikh Ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar is the nearest airport to the base camp of the Amarnath Yatra trek. In addition, Srinagar airport is well connected to the major cities of India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu, Chandigarh, and Kolkata, by direct and connecting flights.

The holy journey to Amarnath can be undertaken by two routes, via Pahalgam and Baltal. Srinagar airport to Pahalgam is about 90 km, whereas Baltal is about 107 km away. After reaching the airport, one can board the government bus or hire a private cab to reach Pahalgam or Baltal base camps.

Amarnath Yatra By Train

No direct trains connect Amarnath to cities and towns of the country. However, the nearest station is Jammu Tawi, located about 384 km from the base camp of the Amarnath trek. The Jammu Tawi railhead is well connected to the major cities of India, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and other major cities of the country. After reaching the station, one can hire cabs or board a bus to reach either Baltal or Pahalgam from where Amarnath Yatra starts.

Amarnath Yatra By Road

The cave is located in a mountainous region at an altitude of about 3,882 m above sea level, so there is no direct connectivity via road. Jammu and Srinagar are the nearest major cities if you travel to Amarnath by road. Once entering the city, the only way to reach the Amarnath Caves is by trekking or taking a helicopter ride. Baltal and Pahalgam are the two base camps from where the holy journey begins. Trekking via Baltal usually takes 1 to 2 days to reach the caves, and it is one of the shortest but challenging routes. Whereas trekking via Pahalgam is the most common route, it takes 3 to 5 days to reach the holy caves of Amarnath.

How to reach Amarnath From Baltal 

Amarnath Yatra from Baltal is the shortest and most popular route among pilgrims. Baltal is a famous base camp, which adventure enthusiasts frequently take. This path leads to the holy cave offering stunning views and an excellent trekking lift. One can reach Srinagar by road from Jammu and head towards Baltal via Sonamarg. Pilgrims can also hire ponies or Palkies to reach the divine cave from the Baltal base camp.

Amarnath Yatra Trek By Foot from Baltal

• Trekking routes: Baltal – Domail – Barari Marg – Sangam – Amarnath

The trek starts from the Baltal base camp, about 14 kilometers away from Amarnath cave. The trekking path is pretty challenging due to rough terrains and steep paths. The first halt, Domail, is about 2 km from the base camp, and the next stop is the Barari Marg, which is 5 kilometers away from Domail. After trekking about 4 km, you will reach Sangam. And after an additional 3 km trek, you will reach Amarnath Cave.

Trekking via Baltal usually takes 1 to 2 days to reach the caves, and therefore, it is advised not to select this route if you are traveling with senior family members, kids, or a pregnant woman.

Note: Food and accommodation facility is not available on this route.

Amarnath Yatra by helicopter from Baltal

It is one of the quickest and best ways to reach the holy cave of Amarnath from Baltal. You can board a chopper at Neelgrath helipad to reach Panjtarni. From the helipad, the cave is situated at 6 km. Pilgrims can trek or hire a pony/ palki to reach the divine cave from the Panjtarni helipad. The tickets can be booked from the official website of SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board).

How to reach Amarnath from Pahalgam

Pahalgam route is the oldest, most comprehensive, and cleanest route for Amarnath Yatra. It takes about 2- 3 days to reach the holy cave of Amarnath via the Pahalgam route. Also, the path is not so challenging as compared to Baltal. Located on the banks of the Lidder River, Pahalgam is a small town renowned for its striking natural beauty.

Amarnath Yatra Trek By Foot from Pahalgam

• Trekking Routes: Pahalgam – Chandanwari – Pissu Top – Sheshnag- Panchtarni – Amarnath Cave

Pahalgam is the base camp of the trek, located 47 km from Amarnath Cave. Pilgrims can embark on the holy sojourn of the Amarnath Yatra on foot. The first halt is about 16 km from the base camp at Chandanwari, after which the real trek starts. The next stop is the Pissu Top at 3 kilometers, after which you will reach Sheshnag at 9 km. After Sheshnag, the next stop is Panjtarni, which is 14 km away. After an additional 6 km of the trek, you will reach the holy cave. Trekking via Pahalgam will take you 3 to 5 days to reach the holy caves of Amarnath.

Pahalgam to Amarnath Yatra by Helicopter:

One can easily board the helicopter at the Pahalgam helipad for Panjtarni Sector. The cave is located 6 km from the helipad. Pilgrims can cover the distance on foot, or they can hire a pony/ palki from Panjtarni helipad to Amarnath cave. Tickets can be booked from the official website of SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board). Due to the extended distance, Pahalgam to Panjtarni Sector is relatively more expensive than the Neelgrath (Baltal) to Panjtarni.

For more information, you can contact our tour experts. You can also plan your Amarnath Yatra through our customizable tour packages.