The July issue of Spice route In-flight magazine
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OPENING SHOT ||||| PILGRIMAGE<br />
INDIA’S TOUGHEST YATRA<br />
GETS UNDER WAY<br />
IN AMARNATH<br />
<strong>The</strong> holy cave can be approached by the longer<br />
Pahalgam-Amarnath <strong>route</strong> as well as the shorter<br />
but tougher Baltal-Amarnath option<br />
THERE ARE RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS.<br />
And then there is the Amarnath Yatra.<br />
Flagged <strong>of</strong>f on the second <strong>of</strong> this month,<br />
the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave in<br />
the Lidder Valley <strong>of</strong> Jammu & Kashmir<br />
will wind up on August 18. <strong>In</strong> all, 3.5 lakh<br />
devotees undertook the yatra last year.<br />
Yet, the journey is not for the fainthearted.<br />
Devotees prepare for the yatra<br />
by undertaking rigorous treks before<br />
approaching a government hospital for a<br />
fitness certificate. <strong>The</strong> popular<br />
Pahalgam-Amarnath Cave <strong>route</strong> spans<br />
45 km and is full <strong>of</strong> steep ascents (like the<br />
ones at Pissutop and Mahagunas Pass),<br />
involves crossing glaciers and wading<br />
through freezing waters, walking on<br />
slushy terrain and facing unpredictable<br />
climate which changes abruptly from<br />
sunny weather to rain and snow and<br />
temperatures <strong>of</strong>ten falling below 5<br />
degrees Celsius. <strong>The</strong> ultimate goal:<br />
observing at close quarters the ice<br />
shivling, the world’s most renowned<br />
ice stalagmite.<br />
<strong>Spice</strong>Jet flies to Srinagar, 87 km away<br />
from Pahalgam. Log on to www.spicejet.com<br />
for details<br />
36 ||||| JULY 2016
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