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SONAMARG
AMARNATH
Although the traditional yatra trek to the Amarnath cave is from
Pahalgam one can also go there from Sonamarg.
Day 1: Sonamarg-Baltal
This 15-km trek takes about five  hours
and it's an easy walk since there is little altitude change
between Sonamarag and Baltal. One should be able to get a lift on
a truck to the roadblock, from there on it is better to walk. The
roadblock is closed until noon or later, waiting for traffic to
come across the Zoji la from Ladakh. From the roadblock one can
walk along the river valley track, which is very pleasant. The
river valley track is also 2 to 3-km shorter than the vehicle
road. A military camp is the first sign of Baltal, which can be
reached in a day from Srinagar.
Day 2: Baltal-Amarnath
The 15-km trek to Amarnath climbs over a thousand metres from
Baltal at 2,743 metres to the cave at 4,175 metres and the walk
takes about nine to 10 hours. The route crosses one major snow
bridge over a river and climbs steadily up, crossing the Satsing
pass, 3 ½-km before Amarnath, at 4,115 metres dropping down and
then climbing up again to the cave at 4,175 metres. There are some
tea stalls along the way, even at the river, and after the
junction with the main trail there are even more.
From Amarnath one can follow the traditional
yatra trail down to Pahalgam.
Option:
marnath to Baltal & Sonamarg from the Amarnath cave return
along the pilgrim trail as far as the junction of the Panchtarni
and Amarvati rivers. Here the trails divert, with the track to
Baltal heading down the true right of the valley. The trail is
prone to rock avalanches where it traverses large scree slopes and
one should be wary of descending without first checking its
condition. If there are no problems, the trek to Baltal can be
completed in about four hours.
GETTING
AWAY
Road: From
Baltal there is a regular bus service during the pilgrimage
period, getting back to Srinagar that night. At other times, camp
at Baltal and continue to Sonamarg at a more leisurely pace the
following morning. From Sonamarg there are three buses a day to
Srinagar and the drive takes around five hours
Amarnath
Yatra Trekking from Pahalgam
Amarnath
Yatra -Trekking from Sonamarg via Baltal
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