Amarnath Shrine is an ancient holy pilgrimage center. The shrine is situated 145 km off
Srinagar in the state of
Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 4,175 m above sea level. The cave is about 45 m (150 ft) high, 27 m (90 ft) long and faces south. Amarnath is surrounded by snow clad mountains and the temperature remains cool throughout the year.
In Amarnath Shrine, Shiva is worshipped in the form of a shivling shaped ice block. Near to the shivlinga there are other ice formations resembling Ganesh, Parvati and Bhairava. The icy Shivalingam begins to take its shape on the first day of the bright half of every lunar month and reaches its full size on the full moon day. After getting its full shape, it begins to decrease and disappear on the new moon day.
Shravan festival is held to celebrate the formation of the ice shivling on the full moon day. Amarnath is crowded during this festival. The procession starts form Srinagar to Amarnath led by Chari Saheb, the holy scepter.
There is no direct air or rail link to Amarnath. Srinagar Airport is the nearest one. From Pahalgam, the nearest roadhead, it is a five-day trek to Amarnath. It is very difficult to reach Amarnath due to the bad climatic conditions.
