Every year Amarnath Yatra starts in the beautiful Kashmir Valley, which is part of India's Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. Amarnath cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m or 12,756 ft and is about 141 km from Srinagar, also known as the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

You can reach Amarnath Cave through Pahalgam town.

Amarnath Cave has very important in Hinduism. The cave, located in Lidder Valley, is surrounded by glaciers, which are covered with snowy mountains and have snow most of the year, except for a short period in summer when it is open to pilgrims.

Initially, there fewer pilgrims were visiting and these were around 12,000 to 30,000 but because of its popularity and also ease of travel nowadays, it has also reached more n 5 lakhs in some years. The annual pilgrimage has varied between 20 and 60 days.

The Amarnath Cave, the abode of the Mahamaya Shakti Petha, is one of the 51 Shakti Petha, temples throughout the Indian Sub Continent that commemorate the location of fallen body parts of the Hindu deity Sati.

Story of Shiv Ling at the Amarnath Cave
The Shiv Ling at the shrine is Swayambhu lingam. This Shiv Ling is a natural stalagmite formation located at Amarnath Mountain which has a peak of 5,186 meters or 17,014 ft and is inside a 40 m or 130 ft high cave at an elevation of 3,888 m. 

The stalagmite is formed due to the freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave onto the floor resulting in an upward vertical growth of ice. 

Parvati and Ganesha are also present here as two smaller stalagmites.

The Shiva Lingam is created from May to August, as the snow melts in the Himalayas above the cave, and the resultant water seeps into the rocks that form the cave. As per religious beliefs, it is said that the lingam grows and shrinks with the phases of the moon, reaching its heights during a summer festival. According to religious beliefs, this is the place where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort, Parvati.

Lidder Valley, where the cave is located, has several glaciers. In 2009, glaciologist Professor M.N.Koul, the former head of the geography department of Jammu University, said that while more scientific studies are needed, contributors to change in lingam size could include changes in the pathways or water leading to the lingam. As the cave is made of limestone and gypsum, therefore, the heat generated by tourists affects the size of the stalagmite. Outside temperature changes also affect its size. To minimize artificially induced temperature changes, helicopter trips and helipad sites are regulated. There has been talking of artificially extending the life of stalagmite, however, this has been objected to.

According to legend, Sage Bhrigu was the first to have discovered Amarnath Cave. A long time ago, it is believed that the Valley of Kashmir was submerged underwater, and Sage Kashyapa drained it through a series of rivers. As a result, when the waters drained, Bhrigu was the first to have a darshan of Shiva at Amarnath. Thereafter, when people heard of the lingam, it became an abode of Shiva for all believers and the site of an annual pilgrimage, traditionally performed by lakhs of people in July and August during the Hindu month of Shravan. 

In 1895, pilgrims would first travel to Kheer Bhawani for a brief stop. Sustained by free rations given by the state, the pilgrims would then travel to Srinagar. From Srinagar, in batches, the pilgrims would then head up Lidder Valley, stopping at locations for holy dips.