Pilgrimage to Amarnath, pilgrimage to paradise

I would like to introduce the pilgrimage to Amarnath. A famous Shiva shrine in Hinduism: an icy stalagmite, the frozen lingam of Shiva.
Recent years the site had over 600.000 visitors/pilgrims a year. A growing number.

This blog entry provides background info, a photo series, several videos of the Amarnath Yatra and a link to an article on some politics and a video on environmental consequences (Paradise has some issues).

Lord Amarnath by Gangadhar Tambe Wikicommons

Interested in the legend of this perhaps more than 5000 years old shrine, of the pigeons overhearing the secret of immortality Shiva told Parvati? Click here.


The Telegraph published a photo documentary on "Thousands of Hindus make a pilgrimage to Amarnath cave in the Himalayas". You can find it here.

See also the site sacred Sites on Amarnath here.

Nirav Patel made following video of touristic visiting.

(2012)

(18:51)

See also the Three minute adventures.

(perhaps turn down music a little)

2008

(3:17)

And the counterpart, great environmental stress.

2011

NDTV

(2:11)

For years now Amarnath is also a political center of a dispute between Kashmiris and the Indian government.

See article in Foreign Affairs (partly available due to subscription)

Ian reader in this article: “Hindu nationalist organizations have encouraged Hindus to participate in the Amarnath pilgrimage as a statement of Hindu pride and in order to reinforce Indian claims to the region and to demonstrate their opposition to Pakistan’s counterclaims.”

In 2016 the Amarnath Yatra is from July 2 to August 18.

Click here for the do's and don'ts if interested in going on a pilgrimage to paradise.