7-Day Itinerary for Amarnath and Vaishno Devi Temple in June 2023

1. Day 1: Arrival in Jammu
   30 minutes (4.3 miles) from Jammu Airport

   Upon arrival at Jammu Airport, check-in to your hotel and relax for a while. In the evening, visit the Bahu Fort and Garden for a scenic view of the Tawi river and the city of Jammu.

2. Day 2: Katra
   2 hours (31.5 miles) from Jammu

   Start your day early and head to Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi Yatra. After reaching Katra, you can start the trek to the Vaishno Devi temple. The trek is around 14 km long and can take about 5-6 hours. You can take a pony or a helicopter to shorten the trek.

3. Day 3: Patnitop
   2 hours (43.7 miles) from Katra

   In the morning, visit the Ardh Kuwari cave temple on your way back from Vaishno Devi. After taking some rest, head to Patnitop, a beautiful hill station known for its meadows and adventure sports like paragliding, skiing, and trekking.

4. Day 4: Srinagar
   6 hours (113.5 miles) from Patnitop

   Take a scenic drive to Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Visit the famous Mughal Gardens, including Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi. In the evening, go for a shikara ride on Dal Lake and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

5. Day 5: Sonamarg
   2 hours (52.7 miles) from Srinagar

   Take a day trip to Sonamarg, also known as the 'Meadow of Gold.' Enjoy the scenic beauty of the place and indulge in activities like horse riding, trekking, and fishing. Visit the Thajiwas Glacier and take a pony ride to enjoy the snow-capped mountains.

6. Day 6: Amarnath Yatra
   4 hours (84.9 miles) from Srinagar

   Start your day early and head to Baltal, the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra. The Amarnath cave is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters and is around 6 km from Baltal. The trek can take around 4-5 hours. You can also take a helicopter to reach the cave temple.

7. Day 7: Departure from Jammu
   8 hours (229.4 miles) from Amarnath cave

   After an early breakfast, start your journey back to Jammu. En route, you can visit the famous Raghunath Temple and Amar Mahal Palace Museum. Depart from Jammu Airport in the evening.

Recommendations

Other local attractions to consider are the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar, the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, and the Karthik Swami temple in Doda. You can also plan a day trip to Gulmarg for skiing and snowboarding or to the town of Kishtwar for adventure activities like rock climbing and river rafting.

To maximize your fun, try to plan your trip during the annual Amarnath Yatra festival, which takes place between July and August. You can also book a Kashmir tour package that includes all the major attractions and activities in the region.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Hotel (6 nights, $600)
• Airfare (round trip, $800)
• Vaishno Devi Yatra (5-6 hours, free)
• Patnitop sightseeing (1 day, $50)
• Srinagar sightseeing (1 day, $80)
• Sonamarg day trip (1 day, $70)
• Amarnath Yatra (4-5 hours, free)
• Food and miscellaneous expenses (6 days, $200)
• Total Estimated Costs: $1,800

Check here for hotel and flight prices.