How to Reach Amarnath by Train

Train Schedule for Amarnath Yatra

Though the easiest way to reach Amarnath is by air**, for some devotees, trains by far remain the most favored mode of transportation.  Since , no direct trains ply to Amarnath given the terrain, one needs to get down at either Jammu, Katra or Udhampur for their onward journey to the Amarnath Caves.

From these stations, one can then take a bus/taxi (early morning)  from the Tourist Reception center to reach:- 

1. Pahalgam:  Jammu to Pahalgam is 315 km.  Good hotels and guest houses are available here as are free Langars (food kiosks) for the devotees run by Non Government Organisations at Nunwan Yatri Camp, 6 kms short of Pahalgam. Spend the first night at Pahalgam and began the onward journey to the  Amarnath Caves the next day by taking the mini bus to  Chandanwari (16 kms). On this route, you will come across some  scenic views of the Lidder River. Even at Chandanwari, you will come across langars providing free food. From here , trek to Pissu Top and then to Sheshnag, so named after the seven peaks that resembles the head of the mythical snake. Refresh yourself in the deep blue waters of Sheshnag lake and camp for the night. 

A steep 4.6 km trek amidst full of rivulets, water falls and springs  awaits you from Sheshnag to Mahagunas Pass ( 4276 mtrs/14000 ft) followed by a slow descend to Panchtarni (3657 mtrs/12000 ft) where you will camp fro the third night. This trek can be very treacherous and daunting for some due to cold winds and oxygen deficiency. Devotees are therefore advised to be properly dressed , carry eatables like dry fruits and  lemon to combat any feeling of nausea and reach for the nearest medical post in case of emergencies. 

At Panchtarni ,devotees can see the five rivers which are said to have from Lord Shiva’s hair. From Panchtarni, the holy caves of Amarnath are some 6 kms away. You can either trek or take a pony/palki to reach the caves. On the way to the Amarnath caves, you will comes across the Sangam of Amravati and Panjtarni rivers, where one can take a bath before going for darshan. It is advisable to start early in order to beat the queues and to return to Panjtarni well in time the same day.

2. Baltal:  Jammu to Baltal is around 400 kms. This journey  through Jammu- Udhampur – Kud – Patnitop – Ramban – Banihal – KaziGund – Anantnag – Srinagar – Sonamarg – Baltal is very scenic and you will see beautiful valleys, waterfalls along the way.  From Baltal , the Amarnath Holy Cave is just 14 Kms (one way) and can be covered by foot or ponies.  Be-aware that this route  is a bit narrow and steep when compared to Chandanwari-Holy Cave route but pilgrims can return back to base camp through this route only in one day thereby saving time.

* * if coming by air, pilgrims need to reach Srinagar and from there take a bus to Pahalgam for their journey to the Amarnath caves.

Given below is a list of trains plying to Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra. The list is not exhaustive and readers are requested to check the details on IRCTC Website before booking their tickets. Special trains are also introduced by Indian Railways during the yatra time and the same are advertised in various newspapers. Devotees are therefore requested to keep a lookout for such adverts.

S.NO.	TRAIN NO.	TRAIN NAME	RUNNING DAYS	FROM	TO
1	19027	VIVEK EXPRESS	Sat	Bandra Terminus	Jammu Tavi
2	22941	INBD JAT S F EXP	Mon	Indore Junction BG	Jammu Tavi
3	14503	KLK-SVDK EXP	Tue ,Fri	Kalka	Katra
4	14713	SGNR-JAT EXP	Wed	Shri Ganganagar	Jammu Tavi
5	22461	SHREE SHAKTI EXP	Daily	New Delhi	Katra
6	14605	HW-JAT EXP	Mon	Haridwar Junction	Jammu Tavi
7	14609	HEMKUNT EXP	Daily	Rishikesh	Katra
8	19415	ADI SVDK EXPRESS	Sun	Ahmedabad Junction	Katra
9	14645	SHALIMAR EXP	Daily	Delhi (Old)	Jammu Tavi
10	12425	JAMMU RAJDHANI	Daily	New Delhi	Jammu Tavi
11	19225	JU JAT EXP	Daily	Jodhpur Junction	Jammu Tavi
12	12445	SAMPARK KRANTI EXP	Daily	New Delhi	Katra
13	22401	DEE UHP AC SUP	Mon,Wed,Sat	Delhi Saria Rohilla	Udhampur
14	74909	PTK UHP DMU	Daily	Pathankot	Udhampur
15	12413	AII JAT EXPRESS	Daily	Ajmer	Jammu Tavi
16	14033	JAMMU MAIL	Daily	Delhi (Old)	Katra
17	13151	JAMMU TAWI EXP	Daily	Kolkata	Jammu Tavi
18	12207	JAMMU GARIB RATH	Tue	Kathgodam	Jammu Tavi
19	11077	JHELUM EXP	Daily	Pune Junction	Jammu Tavi
20	12355	ARCHANA EXP	Tue,Sat	Patna Junction	Jammu Tavi
21	19805	KOTA-UHP EXP	Wed	Kota Junction	Udhampur
22	14611	GCT SVDK EXP	Fri	Ghazipur City	Katra
23	12237	BEGAMPURA EXP	Daily	Banaras	Jammu Tavi
24	12469	CNB JAT EXPRESS (12469)	Wed, Fri	Kanpur Central	Jammu Tavi
25	12491	MOUR DHWAJ EXP	Sun	Barauni Junction	Jammu Tavi
26	22431	ALD UHP EXP	Tue,Sat	Allahabad Junction	Udhampur
27	12331	HIMGIRI EXPress	Tue,Fri,Sat	Howrah	Jammu Tavi
28	15653	AMARNATH EXP	Wed	Guwahati	Jammu Tavi
29	15097	AMARNATH EXP	Thu	Bhagalpur	Jammu Tavi
30	12587	AMAR NATH EXP	Mon	Gorakhpur Junction	Jammu Tavi
31	15651	LOHIT EXP	Mon	Guwahati	Jammu Tavi
32	11449	JBP SVDK EXP	Tue	Jabalpur	Katra
33	16031	ANDAMAN EXPRESS	Sun,Wed,Thu	Chennai Central	Katra
34	19803	KOTA SVDK EXP	Sat	Kota Junction	Katra
35	16317	HIMSAGAR EXP	Fri	Kanyakumari	Katra
36	16687	NAVYUG EXP	Mon	Mangalore Central	Katra
37	18101	TATA JAT EXP	Daily	Tata Nagar	Jammu Tavi
38	15655	KYQ SVDK EXPRESS	Sun	Kamakhya	Katra
39	12471	SWARAJ EXPRESS	Sun, Mon,Thu, Fri	Bandra Terminus	Katra
40	12477	JAM SVDK EXP	Tue	Jamnagar	Katra
41	12475	HAPA SVDK EXP	Wed	Hapa	Katra
42	12473	SARVODAYA EXP	Sat	Gandhidham BG	Katra
43	19107	JANAMBHOOMI EXP	Sun	Bhavnagar Terminus	Udhampur
44	12919	MALWA EXP	Daily	Dr.Ambedkar Nagar	Katra
45	54653	JAT UHP PASS	Daily	Jammu Tavi	Udhampur
46	74907	JAT UHP DMU	Mon,Tue, Wed,Thu,Fri	Jammu Tavi	Udhampur
47	19223	ADI JAT EXPRESS	Daily	Ahmedabad Junction	Jammu Tavi
48	12549	DURG JAT SF EXP	Tue	Durg	Jammu Tavi
49	18215	DURG JAT EXPRESS	Wed	Durg	Jammu Tavi