One of the most important pilgrimage sites in India, the ice lingam at Amarnath is visited by about 5,00,000 devotees every year. Being a place often targetted by terrorists, it is better to check things out carefully before visiting. The cave at Amarnath can be reached by a three-day, 36 km trek from the town of Chandanwari, 16 km north of Pahalgam. Inside the main Amarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Sivalingam, which waxes during May to August and gradually goes down thereafter. This lingam is said to grow end shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. During the annual yatra season, the tourist office in Pahalgam runs shuttle buses to Chandanwari and makes arrangements for the yatra. Palanquins and ponies are available
for helping, elderly people complete the yatra.