Journey towards peace , thrill , adventure and fun.

Amarnath 2013 experience we are three friends who decided for Amarnath visit , we were very excited by listening experience from many people and then we cant control ourself to experience the same.

On 16th July 13 was the date when we actually started our journey , around 5 pm we reached at Pahalgaon Nunawan Base camp and was surrounded by Army , CRPF & Jammu and kashmir police that was the first time when I saw and stayed under full security , our luggage got scanned , personal checking done and then finally we are allotted Tent for night stay , now we are not allowed to go outside the camp. We were little threatened by many people whom we meet at Tent and in army camp , all are saying be carefull journey is very tough and so and so many people died during journey ( information was true even we read as last year appx 300 people died due to breathing issue , cardiac attack and also due heavy cold ). That was the first time when we got frightened. We had our dinner at Bhandara we saw many people those who are really enjoying Bhandaras are like awesome you will get different variety of food of your choice we prefer to have light food so had only Mung Khichadi. Then we get back to our tents we slept around 9:30. We told by army officer that Gate will open sharp at 5:30 AM. Also if delayed then you will stuck at rush due to security check is very strict. Day 2 On 17th July 13 we woke at around 4:30 in the morning, we aimed to cross the check point early to avoid rush and time waste. None of us chose to bath , it was very cold morning I ever experience in my life . I dont know exactly how much temp was but no one had dare to take bath. From Nunwan base camp to Chandanwadi base through Tavera distance 18km we reached around 5:50amwhen we reached at Chandanwari base again all scanning and checking everything is done. Then first tough point is Pissu top which is at 11500ft high above sea level , we reached at top around 8:00 am. And then we were damn tired .we took a rest for a while again went to some Bhandara had light food . Dhokala ,tea ,toste and some sweet petha and cashue etc ..here we saw they are even serving pasta , paneer tikka & kabab, tomato soup and so many variety. We again started our journey towards next point naga koti. Climate was awesome we saw snow on top of mountain.. we are talking to many people on the way specially military people. Miletry people are all around we are feeling very safe. But temperature has gone to around 35 to 37 ..we reached at Sheshnag Zil around 1pm where we again took a halt for 30 min that was the point where one of friend got headache and omitting .we were little worried about him but he said I am fine we can move towards next point which was Panchatarni. We told by people when you reach at Mahaganesh top you will feel more tired and you may experience headache and some breathing issue. As Maha ganesh top was 15500ft above sea level when we enter Mahaganesh top we saw army was serving us hot water which really helps you to breath easily as your nozzle get clear with hot water. Our friend got more ill when we reached at MahaGanesh top . we visited army hospital where they did some checking and then they said he is fine but need rest. We decided to wait their for some more time. Then he said we can continue . we reached Panchatarni at 6pm in the evening where we decided to stay at out side Base camp. Many localities have their tents outside base camp. We were 1 km away from Panchatarni base camp . reason we stayed outside as they open Gate at 5:30 am and we wanted to start next day journey too early even if we delayed then we dont need to stand in Q. Was very nice tent and surrounded by 3 Bhandara and few shop. Temperature has already started reaching at bottom . around 7 or 8 pm when we asked some army people about Temp and was around 13 to 14 degree our friend has already slept due to fever and health issue . where we were planning him to send at Baltal base by Helicopter. We again went to Base camp

hospital where they checked him in detail and said not to worry he would be fine with rest. We returned to Tent. Then around 8:30 Bhandara started dinner we went and we saw many people dancing and full of joy all are shouting BUM BUM BHOLE . well I forgot to tell you throughout the journey we always say BUM BHOLE OR JAI BHOLE . these are the words we all are using to call any one. All people including Army , localities , Bhandara people all are call by these name only. We had light food , with Hot kesar badam Milk and one more thing food is absolutely free. And then we went to tent for sleep. That time Temp was reached around 7 or 8 . That was the time when I started feeling very cold and was thinking Is that the correct decision we have taken to come here ? I told my friend that I am really frightened I dont know I can continue journey tomorrow. Coz cold is increasing where afternoon Temp was 35 to 37 and suddenly it come down to 7 to 8 and was around 2 to 2:30 am when I was badly affected by cold .. I wore thermal cloth , T-shirt and track pant with 2 Razai but not useful then around 5 am we got up where one of our friend was still in a sleep due to his health issue he said we will start late morning I need a sleep. We both fine with it as we dont have any option. We went out and cold was threatening me . I said to my friend that I thought I could not able to see this morning he was laughing on me when I was really scare a lot due to cold. And mid night I was in a state of mind that I could die due to this terrible cold. Day 3 It was morning 5:30 am when we were at one Bhandara for Tea and my one friend was sleeping where another friend was asking me can we take a bath as we need to take Darshan today. I said NO but he said if we take bath you will not fill cold. I dont know how I agree to him. As we were out side Base camp we saw we need to bath outside in open area. Bhandara people said we will provide you hot water . and then we went for bath and that was the awesome experience I had. Full on Cold and we were bathing in open area . The one thing which help us is shouting loudly BUM BHOLE BUM BHOLE .now I was really feeling very good. Still 6 km journey towards holy cave is about to start. We again asked our friend whether he could do it or we will arrange to send you back he said he can do it. So around 8 am we started our Journey towards Holy cave. We reached around 11:30 am and was very joyful moment as we could able to do it. Honestly to read or to say its very easy but the journey was really tough what we experience till now many things which we experience I could not able to write it down. We had already covered 48 Kms . and still 14 kms are remaining to reach at Baltal Base camp . But we were very happy and enthuastic this time as we did our Darshan. Our friend decided to take help of Horse to reach at bottom where we decided by walk only as Baltal route is very dangerous route and many accident happened in that route. We reached at Baltal base around 5 pm where we saw our friend was sleeping under one tree as Baltal area is very big and if he would hired a tent it was very difficult to search. We were very happy and decided to reach Srinagar same evening we hired a car and was excited to stay at House boat . We sat in car and we reached at Gate where army stop us and said there are some issue in srinagar you need to stay here only , and you can leave next morning we decided to stay at Sonmarg which is hardly 5 km from Baltal base camp . but army said No. and then we decided to stay their only. We were asking people what had happened they said this is normal in Srinagar not to worry . we hired a tent and then we slept hoping tomorrow morning we need to reach Srinagar .and then for 4days we were in Balatal base camp only under Army. And was another experience we got when we got information that Srinagar situation is very critical. And when we free from camp till Srinagar dal lake we saw army and CRPF is standing through out the road for security we even saw many area riots affected area and only thing in mind is how can we reach home safely on 4 th day 22nd July evening we reach at dal lake we stayed at houseboat and then planning to leave at earliest. But Dal lake was very safe area where we havent saw any problem but only thing I can say I experienced Fun , Thrill , adventure , peace and learned many things out of this journey . here I am attaching few snapsThanks BUM BHOLE