In whole of this journey i will be sharing my experience and also few tips for other people who are planning for the first time to Amarnath and Vaishnodevi.
We were group of 14 people with 4 from our family with my mom around 65 age.
Started off our journey from Bangalore Airport towards Delhi and then to Jammu (So our first day was dedicated only for travelling to jammu with couple of hours in Delhi Airport)
Before getting to the Temple, if planning to stay back near Vaishnodevi Temple, Ticket or the booking had to be done in katra just before heading towards the hiking path.
Few people who might plans to get back on same day is also fine. There is a catch for people who book Helicopter tickets. Make sure the you register with the below website for booking
https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/login.aspx
If you have to return back on same day, make sure you book morning tickets, so that after darshan returning had to be planned and if it gets late for darshan. For the sachighat (Helipad) to Shirine walking distance is around 3 KM. Don't book battery car for aged people, as from this helipad car is not available. This information is not provided while booking.
There will be Poni and Palki people which can be opted. There are hotels restaurants just 1 km before Shirine. There are multiple gates for the entrance for darshan.
Lets me share my experience, we started around 9 from jammu hotel towards katra which is around 1 hr 30 min hour journey in cab. After reaching we took the stay booking tickets from the katra counter and moved towards Helipad which is quite far from the katra, around 2KM. Reach 1 hour before our slot time. Boarding passes will be issued by checking weight of each person and all luggage will be scanned and given tags for it. After receiving boarding pass, they will take us to helipad in their vehicle which is 2 minutes journey to the top. Boarding pass will be issued with manual serial numbers (1,2,3..) which will be called out to get into the chopper.
After getting down from chopper, we got out mom into palki by pay around 1.4k to and fro back to helipad ( price is fixed by temple authorities)
Before darshan we checked into the room as on the way we have to collect keys as per the allotted rooms( there are different places for stay).
We had good darshan which took around 1hour as crowd was bit less. Usually if crowd is high will take more than 3 hours in queue.
We stayed over night, which is a good experience. Rooms were decent and had pleasant sleep after stressful 1st day.
This day was complete journey from vaishnode temple to katra in chopper and from katra to Srinagar.
In this journey we have to pass through couple of awesome tunnels one is India's longest tunnel of 9km chenani-Nashri tunnel.
On the way we hit few places where village is famous for cricket bat manufacturing and only place where kesar is produced. We had some time spent for purchasing kesar.
This is a sight seeing day in around srinagar hence we had a plan for gulmarg which is around 50km which takes around 2hr journey.
Before reaching we got the boots and jacket for rent.
It's an amazing place, where you can opt an house to go around the place ( it's the views the you will enjoy and the There is nothing like a particular spot you have to go and come back ) .
There is one more option to take an ATV rented for whole day alone with the guide who will also take u to the ropeway and to the peak of Gulmarg (phase 1 and phase 2).
One this day we traveled to pahalgham as our Amarnath yatra starts from that route.
For amarnath there are two route- Baltal and pahalgham. Shortest is baltal.
Since our chopper was booked from pahalgham, we have to travel vai pulwama. There was huge security for Yatris from CRPF jawans.
Pahalgham is know as Switzerland of India, it's really true...the valley and the nature makes you feel that.... at few view are definitely like Switzerland landscapes.
Couldn't enjoy pahalgham much as we have to take rest for the tomorrow which is major for all of us.
Early morning we went to helipad, as our timings was around 7 to 9. After a long wait for the chopper onboarding process.
Getting down from chopper we started our journey towards the holy cave.
The scenic beauty is impeccable, it's out of the world I can say.
You can opt house or a poni. Poni will be taken till the cave, but hourse will stop almost 1km away from cave which we have to walk and cover.
Near the cave camera is not allowed, we will be having BSF and CRPF jawans helping pilgrims while walking. There wont be any issue as there will be good help and guidance provided.
Below are few scenic beauty. It's way way awesome than in pics.
After the darshan, we started towards the helipad, if we have to head back on same day, we have to reached back helipad by 3 pm, else we wont get the slot, as it is first come first serve. After 6 choppers are not operated and even it's based on the weather condition. So mentally be prepared for a day out in Himalayas.
There will be place to stay good food provided in lungars. Only challenge is the cold and rainy conditions.
We head back to pahalgham stayed over night relaxed.
Morning we started towards srinagar. This was the day which was planned as a buffer day. So nothing to be done, hence romed around srinagar and over night stay.
Morning started toward Bangalore.