Amarnath, situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder valley at a height of 3,888 m, is a major pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. The trek to Amarnath is undertaken by the devout in the month of Shravan (July-August) to see the lingam or the phallic symbol of Shiva, formed naturally of an ice-stalagmite. The lingam waxes and wanes with the moon and is flanked by two more ice-lingams, representing Parvati, Shiva’s wife, and their son, Ganesha.
Legend has it that when Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in a cave in Amarnath, a pair of mating doves eavesdropped on their conversation and, having learned the secret, are re-born again and again. They are said to have made the cave their eternal abode and many pilgrims report seeing the dove-pair.