A pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath Cave situated at an altitude of 14,000ft above sea level, is considered to be one of the most sacred yatras in the Hindu religion. The pilgrimage is dedicated to one of the holy trinity, Lord Shiva.

About Amarnath Yatra

The annual Amarnath Yatra is organized in the months of July and August by the State Government. The total distance from Srinagar to Amarnath is of about 141km of which nearly 45km has to be covered on foot from Pahalgam. Considered as one of the holiest naturally occurring Hindu shrines, the Amarnath Cave extends up to 130 feet. Housed inside this high & shallow cave is an ice stalagmite (lingam). The lingam is said to be formed from an underground trickle of water that emerges up from a cleft in the sedimentary rock to as high as 10 feet. On freezing the dripping water takes up the shape of a smooth cone of ice.

Famous Legend

One of the most famous legends associated with Amarnath is that, this cave is exactly the place where Lord Shiva recounted the secret of creation to Goddess Parvati. However, without their knowledge, a pair of doves eavesdropped on their conversation & incidentally learnt the secret. It is for this reason that the mating doves are believed to be reborn again & again & continue to be witnessed by many visiting pilgrims.

Reaching Amarnath

A regular bus service from Baltal takes you to & from Amarnath during the pilgrimage period. If you wish to have a more leisurely trip, then camp at Baltal & drive to Sonamarg from where you can catch one of the 3 buses a day that take you to Srinagar.

An important thing to remember while planning a trip to Amarnath is to ensure that you are mentally & physically fit since you are required to trek at an altitude of 14,000ft. In order to ensure that you have a safe & secure journey it is important that you follow all the given rules & guidelines.