INDIA, June 30, 2019 (Daily Excelsior by Rajan Gandhi): With the annual Holy Yatra starting on 1st July, the whole city of Jammu gets into a festive mode to greet and serve hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the City of Temples. Shri Amarnath ji cave shrine is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism and is one of the most highly revered religious places throughout South Asia. According to Hindu religious beliefs, this is the place where Lord Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort, Mata Parvati.
The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. Out of all Hindu deities, Lord Shiva is extremely popular not only amongst Indians but also amongst the people of other nationalities. To get closer to their revered God, who appears on this earth in the unique form of an Ice Lingam, millions of devotees trek through the daunting mountains to Shri Amarnath ji Shrine in South Kashmir every year in the summer months to pay obeisance. The Holy Cave itself is at a height of around 13,500 ft with track to cave passing through highest altitude of 14,500 ft and as such problems of high altitude sickness as well as rain and snowfall make this pilgrimage as one of the toughest among all.
The article goes on to tell much more about the pilgrimage, including major adjustments to the food offered to pilgrims during their multi-day trek. The festival-style food being served was entirely unsuited for consumption during the rigorous high altitude hike. For one, deep fried delicacies enjoyed at normal altitudes were banned in favor of simple kicheri and other easily digested dishes.
See also Hinduism Today’s 2013 story on the pilgrimage: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=5363