AMARNATH YATRA : Sheshnag - Mahagunas (Ganesh) Top

Nagakoti to Sheshnag 

After Nagakoti comes Sheshnag lake and Mountains where the beautiful river East Lidder originates. From Nagkoti, Sheshnag yatra camp is at 2 kms and in between these 2 kms you can enjoy the breathtaking views of this charming lake.The first glimpse of the lake itself demonstrates how magical the view is going to be when we see the whole lake along with chain of  mountains.     






East Lidder river originating from Sheshnag
As we moved further we got the spectacular vision of whole lake. The picture of whole lake while travelling is very difficult to get as the lake is too wide. Only in the start when we reach Sheshnag territory we can get the whole picture  of the wide lake as it is narrow from that vision . 
 

SHESHNAG LAKE ( 11730 feet) 

Once again I will say that this is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen , No Doubt about it. I will try to describe some part of its beauty. The color of water itself is the major attraction and one would be completely lured and magnetized by the vision. often have very clear waters, with high drinking water quality. The bottom waters of such lakes typically have ample oxygen,thus, such lakes often support many fish species, like trout, which require cold, well-oygenated waters.

Sheshnag lake with different types of Mountains.

Many people say that they seen Sheshnag serpent in this beautiful valley. Once while watching at the lake closely I saw  something shady moving on the lake. I was quite surprised whether what I saw was really Sheshnag swimming inside
 

Amarnath Legend :- Lord Shiva leaves  all the serpents at Nagakoti and finally he leaves Sheshnag  the one around his neck here at this lake. Hence the lake is named after that serpent. The 7  mountains here resembles and called 7 hoods of the Sheshnag serpent.
 

Many pilgrims stay here overnight mostly pilgrims who travel by foot. Lot of arrangements are there in Sheshnag like base camps, tents, medicinal faclities , small hospitals , doctors , medicines, army camp for safety, oxygen cylinders , bhandaras and langars  etc. People enjoy all these faclities in Sheshnag Camp and have a bath in Sheshnag lake in the morning and leave for darshan of Holy cave.

Just see the colors and shades of Sheshnag lake

Sheshnag lake most of the times apart from three to four months is frozen. June to September is best part to visit this lake. Many tourists come in this period to visit this lake and see its beauty apart from the yatra days. Even some professionals and crazy travellors come even after that to see the frozen lake covered with snow. The layer of ice on the lake has broken many times which has led to deaths of tourists and trekkers due to hypothermia  here.
Finally after superb view of around half an hour


Yatra base camp at Sheshnag
 


Now we headed towards most tedious and tiring part of this yatra. The next destination was Mahagunas top or Ganesh top which is the highest point in this yatra with a small  military base at Babaltop in between. The pathway from Sheshnag to Mahagunas top  is heavily covered with rocks and sharp stones. Actually this path is mostly covered with snow, but now when we were going most of the snow was melted.  Still we could find lot of snow till Mahagunas Top and Poshpatri. Also the snow was fully covered with brown and black mud due to horses and pilgrims. Lot of times our horses were actually walking on the snow which we felt that it was mud. Walking on the snow is also a very dangerous and tricky situation. The horse as well as humans both slip here. One should really take care while walking on snow.
 






Rocky road and rocky peaks on the way to Mahagunas top
 

BABALTOP ( 13800 feet)
Babaltop to Mahagunas Top


  

MAHAGUNAS TOP or GANESH TOP ( 14500 feet)

At around 14.00 hours we reached Mahagunas Top. As the name suggests Mahagunas Top it seems that it would be the highest part of some mountain or area. But actually it is a pass between 2 large peaks in between the Yatra at this point. As soon as we were heading towards it the climate conditions became very sarcastic and biting. Heavy cold winds were blowing and temperature went from 15 to 10 degree

On the way to Mahagunas Top.

Babaltop and snow capped peaks behind them , From Mahagunas top

At Mahagunas or Ganesh Top we got down from the horses and rested for while. We have exactly reached half way here. Most of the climbing part is over apart from a patch of 3 kms from Panchtarni to Sangam.
 

Amarnath Legend :- It is here where Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati left their son Lord Ganesha  and went to cave for revealing the secrets of immortality.

The temperature here is minimum in whole yatra. There are military camps, langars and medical centres in Mahgunas top. There are also very good scenes of 4 to 5 huge peaks which surrounds this pass.

One of the Mountain Peaks at Mahagunas top

This is the type of the peak which Hritik Roshan and his team members climbs in the climax of the film to get rid of Pakistan army situated above. Straight like a wall. My picture is hazy here but  there is Indian flag waving above the peak if you can see.
 

This unique peak has slope just like a wall and cracks in between as shown in the movie “Laqshya” staring Hritik Roshan.

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