Thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva are expected to reach the shrine in the next two months.

Amarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva, stands at a height of nearly 12,800 feet above sea level, 141 km from Srinagar. The base camp for the pilgrimage, Pahalgam, is 96 km from Srinagar.

Also See: Official Amarnath web site

Devotees will take an arduous route through rain-swollen streams and past a glacier-fed lake to the cave to worship an ice stalagmite, believed to be a phallic symbol representing the regenerative powers of Lord Shiva.

The Yatra will end on August 19, Raksha Bandhan day.

Photographs: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Text: Rupali Nimkar | Design: Rahil Shaikh

Also See: Bam Bam Bhole