Pilgrims may soon access Amarnath cave shrine through vehicular road
A 10.8 km long tunnel will be built between Sheshnag and Panchtarni so that pilgrims will have a safe and uninterrupted journey in bad weather
Pilgrims visiting the holy Amarnath cave shrine will soon be able to access it through a vehicular road, confirmed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The BRO is currently carrying out the road widening work on the cave routes as well as Baltal. Media reports said that a 10.8 km long tunnel will be built between Sheshnag and Panchtarni on the route from Chandanbari to the holy cave so that the pilgrims will have a safe and uninterrupted journey in bad weather. Besides, a 5-km long and five-and-a-half-meter wide paved road is also being built from Panchtarni to the holy cave.
Similarly, work is also underway on the Baltal route which is about 14 km long up to the cave. The responsibility of widening the travel route and making it suitable for vehicular traffic was handed over to the BRO last year. Many portions of work have been completed especially the erection of walls on hills in areas prone to landslides.
The Amarnath cave has been a place of worship since time immemorial, with references to the site found in many ancient texts. According to a Hindu legend, the cave is where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati.
The cave is covered with snow most of the year, except for a short period in summer when it is open for pilgrims. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters (12,756 feet).
At present, most of the pilgrims opt for the traditional route to the holy cave shrine via Pahalgam. A majority of the pilgrims prefer this route as it is not only a bit easier than the Baltal one but also scenic. On the other hand, the trek via Baltal usually takes 1 to 2 days to complete. The trek is steep and the roads are narrow making the difficulty level of this route more than the other one. This route is usually preferred by youngsters and adventure seekers.
Thousands of Hindu pilgrims take part in the two-month pilgrimage every year amid deployment of paramilitary soldiers and police along the route to thwart any terror threat.
