On Tuesday, a batch of 1,477 pilgrims departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, traveling in two escorted convoys.
On Tuesday, another batch of 1,477 devotees departed from Jammu for Kashmir, bringing the total number of pilgrims who have participated in the ongoing Amarnath Yatra to 4.66 lakh, according to officials from the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the Yatra.
The Amarnath Yatra began on June 29 and will conclude after 52 days on August 19, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
Tuesday’s group of 1,477 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys.
“The first convoy, comprising 13 vehicles and carrying 377 Yatris, departed at 3:25 a.m. for the North Kashmir Baltal base camp. The second convoy, consisting of 39 vehicles and transporting 1,100 Yatris, also left at the same time for the South Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp. Both convoys are expected to arrive in the Valley before midday today,” officials stated.
Due to the extraordinary security arrangements made by the CAPFs and J&K Police, this year’s Yatra has been proceeding peacefully and smoothly.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon, which devotees believe symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
Located at an altitude of 3,888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, devotees can approach the cave shrine via either the traditional South Kashmir Pahalgam route or the North Kashmir Baltal route.
The Pahalgam-Cave shrine route is 48 km long and takes pilgrims 4-5 days to reach the shrine. The Baltal-Cave shrine route is 14 km long and allows devotees to have ‘darshan’ and return to the base camp within a day.
