Amarnath Yatra Part-2: Until Baltal base camp

Journey Day came. 🙂 I was checking the news daily for security updates and weather updates. In News, heard few people are died because of heart attacks. We continued with our travel plan. Weather conditions were not so great around 3rd and 4th of July 2018 and it was getting better

In Srinagar Airport: We received our yatra permit for 6th July 2018 so we started our journey on 5th July 2018. Once you came out of Airplane, You can see a stall especially for Amarnath Yatri’s by Indian Army. They will guide you briefly about yatra journey and take your Aadhar number and address details to track the number of people going to Yatra. Army people showed us the path for prepaid Taxi booking place. Taxi Guy arranged a cab for around 4000 rupees for 5 people. Other two Delhi people came along with us. If you are an individual and if you are going by share Taxi, they will charge you around 800 rupees to drop you at Baltal. We pre-booked a hotel in Sonumarg but during the travel, we could not able to locate the hotel So we went ahead to Baltal Base camp.

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While Travelling in flight I captured beautiful clouds in my mobile. Srinagar to Baltal distance is around 94 KM distance. Entire way is full of rivers, mountains, and deep valleys. All the houses ceilings are made with thin iron sheets this will be because of daily rain. Where ever you go you will see a canal. I felt they are lucky. In our region (Chittoor Dist) there is no water at all even in 1000 feet depth:). Later when I discussed this topic with local Kashmir people, they told earlier it was even more water was there it seems.

Baltal base camp: All the pilgrims will stay in base camps before the day of travel. So that pilgrim’s will get adjusted to the hill area environment . As soon as you enter into the Baltal there will be a security check which will scan your baggage. After that, you can enter inside. Base camp will be full of tent houses and Bhandara’s. You can get shelter there. With the help of Delhi people, we were able to stay in one Bhandara for that night. In Bhandara we had food. Food will be offered to all pilgrims by all the Bhandaras. This will be done after Bhajan and Puja. Army will keep announcing about yatra travel updates so listen to them carefully or else you can go to near security check to find out the details. You will not have any hotel or lodge in Baltal base camp. in case if you need these kinds of facilities you need to stay in Sonamarg and come to the Baltal base camp to travel

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Role of Soldiers: Tight security will be there always throughout yatra path. From the starting point Srinagar to Baltal and from Baltal to Guha. All of them are very friendly and they will provide you with all the information you need and they will help you to make phone calls from their mobile numbers and guide you throughout the journey. Without them, you may not be able to complete Yatra safely. Probably for every 250 meters there will be one army soldier who will be taking care of your safety. We all should salute them

Convoy: Travel is allowed on specific timings. Travel is allowed during when the convoy is making rounds in this route You are not allowed to travel as you wish. There will be many checkpoints where Jawans will help pilgrims by providing route maps and visiting places, fairs of labor and horses.

Bhandaras: Once you reach Baltal Base camp you will see a lot of Bhandaras. Few people will become a group and they will bring all the vegetables, rice, wheat and bedsheets and they will bring in one Lorry. They will do this as a seva for Lord Shiva. Providing food in such a difficult environment is a great service to society. I do see many Bhandaras from northern states of India. People setup Bhandaras from many years. In case if you need shelter you can go and contact Bhandara head. He can provide you space to sleep and Bhojan. From south India, I did not see much Bhandaras. But this time Andhra people collaborated with other Bhandara people and they have kept a stall over there. Each Bhandara will offer their local food, So pilgrims can go and have food there.

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Tent Houses: In case if you did not get accommodation in Bhandaras, Then you can opt shelter in Tent houses. You can pay around 150 to 200 rupees to get a cot and blanket. You can have food in Bhandara and continue with your travel to Guha next day morning. Few tent houses will be there without cot also. In all the places they will provide blankets. In case if you are taking tent you can take near entrance gate

The beauty of the Himalayas: Entire Journey is full of trees, lakes, streams, deep valleys, cold weather. Once I reached Baltal I felt that my life is so small like a dust particle in front of gods creation. Few Mountains will be so steep, that no one can climb. You just need to experience the beauty and fear which you may not be able to capture in an electronic device. You cannot predict the weather conditions of Himalayas 🙂

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In Himayalayas nature will decide what will happen next. Things will not go as per your plan.

Medical help: In Baltal Base camp there are two health camps are available. In case if you are sick . you can consult and get medicines. I did not go. I remember near Guha also there is one medical camp is there.

Phone numbers and SIM cards: Except Jammu and Kashmir sim cards, all other state Sim Cards will not work. Best thing is to take the SIM card temporarily so that you will have a communication with your family. In Baltal there are shops which can sell these SIM cards. Preferably take the SIM cards over there because in case of activation issues you can go and contact them. In other places also you can take SIM cards. I took SIM card in Sonamarg . BSNL SIM card will work better . Airtel is the next option. 2G network will be there so that you can send whatsapp messages to your family.

CLICK HERE to read next part of the Amarnath yatra Part-3: Journey to Guha or Holy cave