Fresh batches of pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave
Srinagar, Jul 14: Fresh batches of pilgrims on Saturday left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where over 1.65 lakh yatries have paid obeisance since June 28, the commencement of the 60-day-long pilgrimage.
The annual pilgrimage was progressing smoothly, official sources said here on Saturday.
They said on the 16th day on Friday 13,083 yatris had paid obeisance. With this, a total of 1,65,006 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, from different parts of the country had darshan of the self made ice Shivlingam since June 28 when the yatra commenced from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks.
Since early this morning more pilgrims are reaching the cave shrine to pay obeisance, they added.
A fresh batch of over 2,800 pilgrims left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine early Saturday morning. The pilgrims are scheduled to pay obeisance at the cave shrine after covering the 14-km-long hilly track on foot this afternoon. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at a camp after darshan yesterday, have started their return journey to base camp this morning.
Similarly, a fresh batch of pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the first halting station on traditional track, which could be reached by vehicles also. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting station on the route have also started their journey on foot towards the cave shrine early this morning.