AMARNATH TEMPLE

AMARNATH TEMPLE

Location :- Amarnath – Jammu and Kashmir - India

Amarnath hollow is a Hindu altar situated in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The hole is arranged at an elevation of 3,888 m (12,756 ft), around 141 km (88 mi) from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and came to through Pahalgam town.  The altar frames a vital piece of Hinduism, and is thought to be one of the holiest holy places in Hinduism. The hole is encompassed by cold mountains.  The cavern itself is secured with snow the vast majority of the year aside from a brief timeframe in summer when it is open for pioneers. A great many Hindu devotees make a yearly journey to the Amarnath cavern on testing rocky territory to see an ice stalagmite framed inside the hole.

Amarnath is a 150 feet high and 90 feet long surrender found almost 145 km east of Srinagar. Situated in a Himalayan chilly valley at a tallness of roughly 4,000m the cavern has four ice developments, which are considered puppets of various Hindu divine beings.  The greatest figure is viewed as that of Shiva. On the left half of the lingam there is an ice development that is thought to be Ganesha. Correspondingly, arrangements speaking to Parvati and Bhairava are on the right half of the ice lingam.

The sanctuary is a prominent yatra destination for Hindus.  The Amaranth Cave was found by a Muslim shepherd of Batakot, Buta Malik, when he lost his rush and found that it had strayed into the sacrosanct detect around 150 years back. There is a documentary confirmation of this disclosure. Indeed, even today his family gets some part of the donations offered by explorers. It is said that the sacred hole was found by a shepherd named Buta Malik.

Devotees travel on foot, either from Srinagar or from Pahalgam. The latter journey takes approximately 5 days. The State Road Transport Corporation and Private Transport Operators provide the regular services from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal. Also privately hired taxis are available from Jammu & Kashmir.

The shorter northern route is just about 16 km long, but has a very steep gradient and is quite difficult to climb. It starts from Baltal and passes through Domial, Barari and Sangam to reach the cave. The northern route is along the Amarnath valley and all along the route one can see the river Amaravathy (It is more like a tributary of Chenab) which originates from Amarnath Glacier.

It is believed that Lord Shiva left Nandi, The Bull, at Pahalgam (Bail Gaon). At Chandanwari, he released the Moon from his hair (Jataon). On the banks of Lake Sheshnag, he released his snakes. At Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Mountain), he left his son Lord Ganesha. At Panjtarni, Lord Shiva left behind the five elements - Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky. As a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Dance. Then, finally, Lord Shiva entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvathi.

A couple of pigeons, present and flying in the hollow, soak its chill-frosty and unusual environs in secret and persona. The pioneers think of it as to a great degree promising and feel honored, excited and transported to otherworldly domains when they get a negligible look at them. The pair of pigeons in the Holy Cavehas been respectfully portrayed in the Amarnath Mahatamya as the two emissaries of Lord Shiva scattering His uncovered verities and truths to the universe of people for their profound upliftment and liberation.

En route the cave, various non-profit organizations set up food supply and resting tents called pandals which are available for free to the pilgrims. Near the shrine, hundreds of tents which are erected by locals can be hired for a night's stay. Helicopter services from base camp to Panjtarni (6 km from the cave) are also available from various private operators.

Every year, thousands of central police and state police personnel as well as Indian Army Soldiers are deployed to provide security to pilgrims from potential terror threats. The forces position at various halts and also in the perimeter of the shrine.