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Amarnath Cave is situated in a narrow pas between the montains at the farther end of Lidder Valley and sands at 3,888 m, 46 Km from Pahalgam and 14 Kms from Baltal. Amarnath Yatra is one of the well known Yatra devoted to the Lord Shiva. Though the original pilgrimages subscribes that the yatra (journey) be undertaken from Srinagar, the more common practice is to begin journey at Chandanwari, and cover the distance to Amarnathji and back in five days. The distance of Pahalgam is 96 Kms from Srinagar.

Amarnathji is considered to be one of the major Hindu Dhams. The holy cave is the abode of Lord Shiva. The guardian of the absolute, Lord Shiva, the destroyer, is enshrined in the form of an ice-lingam in this cave. This lingam is formed naturally, which is believed to wax and wane with the moon. According to one of the mythological tales of Amarnath, it is here in the cave of Amarnath Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of immortality to his wife Parvati and therefore that place was named Amreshwar and has become the a sanctuary of Hindu community. About 400,000 faithful devotees make their Yatra to Amarnath every year during the festival of Shravan Mela in June to August.

Discovery of Holy Cave

Although the existence of the Holy Cave has been mentioned in the Puranas, the popular story narrated by people about the re-discovery of this Holy Cave is of a shepherd Buta Malik. Story goes like this: a saint gave Buta Malik a bag full of Coal. On reaching his home when he opened the bag, to his utter surprise the bag was full of gold coins. This overwhelmed him with joy. He ran to thank the Saint. But the Saint had disappeared. Instead, he found The Holy Cave and the Ice Shiv Lingam there in. He announced this discovery to the Villagers. Then onwards this became a sacred place of Pilgrimage.

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