Amarnath Pilgrimage Package from Pahalgam route

The Pahalgam route is the oldest and traditional route to perform Amarnath Pilgrimage. This route was used by Lord Shiva in ancient times to go to the Holy Cave. There are two options from here: you can either take a helicopter ride, or you can go by trek. We have both types of Amarnath Pilgrimage Packages from here. Below we are going to describe each option to reach the Holy Cave from Pahalgam.

Pahalgam

Pahalgam is one of the most beautiful places in Kashmir and is often used as a location for Bollywood films. It is also known as “Bail Gaon” because Lord Shiva left his servant Nandi here while he was on his way to the Holy Cave. Pahalgam is a hill station located at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) on the banks of the Lidder River. It is said that Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality (amrit) here. Pahalgam is located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

How to reach Pahalgam

Pahalgam is well connected by road from Jammu and Srinagar city.

• From Srinagar: Pahalgam is 95 kilometers (59 miles) from Srinagar Airport/City and it takes around 2 hours to reach by road. There is no alternate option to reach Pahalgam except by road from Srinagar.
• From Jammu: Pahalgam is 295 kilometers (183 miles) from Jammu Airport/City and it takes around 10 hours to reach by road. There is no alternate option to reach Pahalgam except by road from Jammu.

Weather Condition and Average Temperature of Pahalgam

The weather of Pahalgam is moderate and during winter you can see heavy snowfall. During Amarnath Pilgrimage in June and July, the temperature goes up to 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

For June, July and August, the average day temperature is recorded as 30-32 degrees Celsius (86-89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) while the lowest temperature is recorded as 1-4 degrees Celsius (34-39.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Amarnath Pilgrimage by Helicopter

The helicopter ride from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave is a popular option for pilgrims. The helicopter ride takes around 15 minutes and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The helicopter ride costs around ₹9800 (approx. US$115) per person.

Amarnath Pilgrimage Helicopter Package From Pahalgam

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has provided the facility of helicopters on this route. Helicopter service starts from Pahalgam city helipad to Panchtarni helipad, which is the last point by helicopter. The distance from Pahalgam to Panchtarni is 45 kilometers, and it takes around 20 minutes to reach Panchtarni Helipad. Once pilgrims reach Panchtarni, they can start their journey by walk or by pony to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Holy Cave. The distance from Panchtarni to Holy Cave is 6 kilometers, and it can be covered in 2 hours each way. If you don’t want to go for a walk, you can hire a pony or palki from Panchtarni Helipad.

Generally, a 4-night, 5-day helicopter package from Pahalgam is recommended. The weather condition is not always good, so we never recommend 2-night, 3-day or 3-night, 4-day helicopter packages from Pahalgam. The package cost by helicopter from this route is expensive as compared to the Neelgrath route.

If you want to include nearby sightseeing and other Kashmir places sightseeing, you can increase the duration up to 7 nights, 8 days minimum. If you want to add Maa Vaishno Devi package and Jammu sightseeing, you can go up to 10 nights, 11 days. If you want to cover Kargil, Leh, and Ladakh, you can increase the package duration up to 15 nights, 16 days.

Amarnath Pilgrimage by Trek

The trek from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave is a challenging but rewarding experience. The trek takes around 3 days and covers a distance of 40 kilometers (25 miles). The trek is not suitable for people with medical conditions or young children.

The trek starts from Pahalgam and passes through the beautiful meadows of Aru and Sheshnag. The trek culminates at the Holy Cave, where pilgrims can see the natural ice formation of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Amarnath Pilgrimage Trekking Package from Nunwan / Pahalgam

Amarnath Pilgrimage trekking from Pahalgam / Nunwan is the perfect traditional route which was used by Lord Shiva to reach the holy cave. This is the reason Amarnath Pilgrimage Trekking Package from Pahalgam is the highest selling trekking package for Amarnath Pilgrimage. Nunwan is the base point just a kilometer from the Pahalgam City.

When you start trekking from Pahalgam, you come across Chandanwari, 16 kilometers from Pahalgam. It is assumed that Lord Shiva left his moon at this place, and that is why this place is called Chandanwari. From Chandanwari, pilgrims trek via Pissutop to Sheshnag, which is 14 kilometers away from Chandanwari. This is the place where Lord Shiva left his snake, and that is why this place is called Sheshnag. Later, once you move towards Panchtarni, you find Mahaguna Top (Mahaganesh Mountain) on the way. This is the place where Lord Shiva left his son, Lord Ganesha. The distance from Sheshnag to Panchtarni is around 14 kilometers. This is the place where Lord Shiva left his five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sky), and that is why this place is known as Panchtarni. From Panchtarni, it is 3 kilometers to Sangam. Sangam is a place where the routes from Baltal and Pahalgam merge, and from Sangam, it is 3 kilometers to the Holy Cave.

Generally, a 6-night, 7-day trekking package from Pahalgam is recommended. The weather condition is not always good, so we never recommend 4-night, 5-day or 5-night, 6-day trekking packages from Pahalgam. The package cost by trekking from this route is expensive as compared to the Baltal route because it takes extra days to complete the pilgrimage as compared to Baltal.

If you want to include nearby sightseeing and other Kashmir places sightseeing, you can increase the duration up to 9 nights, 10 days minimum. If you want to add Maa Vaishno Devi package and Jammu sightseeing, you can go up to 12 nights, 13 days. In 12 nights, 13 days, almost, every main place will be covered by the both the famous pilgrimages, Amarnath Pilgrimage and Maa Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage. If you want to cover Kargil, Leh, and Ladakh, you can increase the package duration up to 17 nights, 18 days.

Tips for Amarnath Pilgrimage

• The best time to go on the Amarnath Pilgrimage is from July to August.
• Make sure you are physically fit before attempting the trek.
• Carry enough food and water for the duration of the trek.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• Be respectful of the local environment and leave no trace.