It was indeed a high fly pilgrimage. Just bare three days of 5th,6th & 7th July to be precise. Day one to reach nearest base camp, day two for to & fro journey to the shrine in the cave and day three for return. No scope for making it shorter. Three domestic carriers and a helicopter service needed for that not to mention taxi drive to and form Baltal or pony or Dandi (palquein) ride of the last 6 KM distance from helipad to shrine cave.
Still it had the devotion, charm and adventure of full fledged AMARNATH YATRA. The adventure was written large on narrow, rising and slippery trails. In case you failed to notice, the pony wala or Dandi wala were quick enough to point out spots from where travelers have slipped into deep valley and how no trace of them could be found. They say Terrorist are planning to hit the YATRA. No need of ammunition. A small stampede rising out of panic is good enough to take toll of hundreds and thousands of Yatri. If that was not enough to indicate dangers, co-travelers gasping for breath did the job of reminder well.
Still the danger failed to dampen the spirit of the charm and devotion. A shining sun on the caps of peaks and snow gathered on the trail, clouds winds and rains, the cold of near the ice caps, a rare rainbow, mud, stones, glaciers, pine trees all came together to complete the grand picture. The peaks of Himalaya are so well spread that every peak appears to be top of the world. That was the feeling we carried till we reached the shrine.
While climbing the last lap of trek, all three trails coming from Pahalgam, Baltal and helicopter pad united in one single trail. It no more mattered from where you have come, or how much you traveled. Only thing that mattered was the fact you were there at last at the feet of the LORD in all his natural grandeur. The realization that BULAVA AYA HAI. In our case the call came to my wife. She made it in spite of cracked heals and fix leg joints on shear strength of strong will. We have to thank the dandi boys for that. I was a mere chaperon. It was Vikas Gokhale who turned in the robes of dutiful son Shravan for us. In the anxiety to ensure that we definitely have Darshan, he skipped his own. I am ready to hand over whatever Punya I might have accidentally collected to him.
Arvind Khare
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