April 12, 2008
by News Desk

The annual Amarnath yatra will commence on the 18th of June this year, twelve days ahead of the normal schedule. The announcement was made by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to start Amarnath yatra simultaneously from Pahalgam and Baltal routes from June 18. Governor S K Sinha also informed that the Shivlingan has been fully formed after a gap of three years.

The registrations for the Amarnath Yatra can be done in Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hydrabad, jammu and Srinagar. The registration normally closes before the yatra commences. For making registrations or any further information and assistance related to the Amar Nath Yatra, interested people may contact Thaindian Travel at 0851590100, 0819364035 or drop a mail to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

According to the Hindu mythology, Once Lord Shiva recounted to Goddess Parvati the secret of creation in a cave in Amarnath. Unknown to them, a pair of mating doves eavesdropped on this conversation and having learned the secret, it is said, are reborn again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode. Many pilgrims have reportedly got a chance to see the twin doves near the shrine.

The shrine is located in a glacial valley at 4,175m (13,700 ft.). The holy cave is about 150 feet high and 90 feet long. Within the premises (cave) there are four or five ice formations that resemble the figures of different gods. The most prominent figure is regarded as lord Siva (Amarnath). On the left side of the linga is an ice formation of lord Ganeha, and on the right hand side is goddess Parvati and Bhairava. The area is covered with snow from September till June. The cave opens in July and August for the devotees coming from across the globe to have one glimpse of the deities. This is the rainy season, so pilgrims should be ready to face the most challenging situations. Approximately 30,000 people visit Amarnath each year. One can also hire ponies or hire helicopter to reach the shrine. The pilgrims start their journey from Pahalgam to the caves and worship the ice Lingam.

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