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Contextual Focus
A conversation on visiting
the Amarnath Cave. This cave is situated at a height of more than twelve
thousand feet above sea level. Around the month of August, it attracts
religious-minded Hindus from all over India (see Notes).
Grammatical Focus
Note the use of 
(see
Notes). The classifier 
'thousands' is introduced. The verbs 
'to have to' and 
'to enjoy' appear.
Lexical Focus
Note the following
lexical set:
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Ashok: Hello,
Mohan. How are you?
Mohan: Hello.
(Yes) I am fine. When did you return from Tulmul?
Ashok: I
came yesterday. This is the time (for me) to visit the Amarnath Cave. I
am thinking of going there. How far is it?
Mohan: Amarnath
is about eighty miles from Srinagar. Go, you will enjoy it very much.
Ashok: How
does one go there?
Mohan: One
goes by bus up to Pahalgam, and from Pahalgam you may go on horseback or
on a stretcher.
Ashok: How
many people go there?
Mohan: Oh,
thousands. They come from all parts of India. A large number of sadhus
also go there. The government makes arrangements for everything.
Ashok: What
kind of arrangements are there?
Mohan: Everything,
of course: doctors, medicine, food, clothing, and police.
Ashok: What
is the road to Amarnath like?
Mohan: Up
to Pahalgam, the road is good. After that one has to climb over mountains.
Ashok: That
means the journey is difficult?
Mohan: Yes,
very difficult. One has to walk over snow.
Ashok: At
what elevation is Amarnath located?
Mohan: About
thirteen thousand feet.
Ashok: What
is there on the mountain top?
Mohan: Amarnath
is a place for pilgrimage. There is a spring and a cave on the top of the
mountain. Before entering the cave, all the pilgrims take a bath in the
spring.
Ashok: What
is inside the cave?
Mohan: It
is said that on 
a lingam of (Lord) Shiva, made of snow, appears in the cave. All the pilgrims
worship it. At that time a pair of pigeons also appears there.
Ashok: It
must be a beautiful place. How many days does it take to get there?
Mohan: It
takes about four to five days.
Ashok: Perhaps
I will go to Amarnath.
Mohan: Oh
yes, you should go. You will enjoy it.
Ashok: All
right, goodbye. I will come tomorrow to talk to you again.
Mohan: Yes,
by all means. Goodbye.
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Chapter
29
