amarnAth yAtra - some useful information

Useful things to take along

Dry fruits or any other offering that would stay for many days for the Lord
Trekking bag
Water bottle
Chocolate/cheese or any small food materials
Sweater
Glouse
Monkey cap (that covers head and ears)
Muffler
Rain jerkin
Warm clothing (preferably many layers of not so thick clothing)
Torch light
Trekking shoes
Sleeping bag etc (The tents normally give these also)

Keep the weight of the bag as less as possible to make a more comfortable trek.

Some useful tips

Before starting off for the yatra check with the doctor and ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared for trekking over the height of 14,000 feet.
Ladies to wear clothings fit for trek like chudidhars and not sarees.
The sticks to support the walk could be obtained at chandanwari.
People who might not be able to trek could take the horses or the chair to go up. This could be fixed at bailgA.Nv (Pahalgam) or chandanwari. Horses may also be available to cross certain difficult passes on the way.
If you employ a labour for bringing the cooking and other heavy material up, ensure that they come along your horse in order to avoid searching for them when you reach the place of your stay.
Keep the yatar slip duely stamped by the government tourism depatment.
There would be medical aid centers on some specified places en route. If you need any specific/special maedicine please take them along.
It is prohibited to take liquor on the yatra.
Walk slowly in your steady pace and take care to ensure you follow the instructions provided by the military and other helping forces.
The shortcuts which are steaper could exhaust you faster. Follow the standard route followed by all the pilgrims.
Don't stop on the spots marked dangerous.
At risky places don't try to overtake keeping the safety of all in mind.
The langars are at quite well interspreced distances. They serve quite a bit to refresh and provide free food to the yatris.
Ensure that the labourers whom you take along are authorised, byseeing their identification cards.
Don't throw the non-environment friendly materials (plastic polythene etc) on your way. Help to keep the area clean and fresh for our and future generations.
The total distance from chandanwari to the holy cave is 32 kms. chandanwari is at a height of 2895 meters and the holy cave is at 3952 meters above mean sea level.