SRINAGAR : The annual Amarnath pilgrimage was progressing smoothly as fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy Cave in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far 2.17 lakh yatris had darshan since the commencement of the 48-day-long yatra from July 2.
Four vehicles, carrying pilgrims, arrived at Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps this morning after covering the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar distance during the night, official source said.
They said similarly, 12 vehicles, carrying pilgrims left Baltal base camp while 10 vehicles Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Jammu early this morning.
They said about 60 pilgrims, including women and children, have paid obeisance at the cave shrine since early this morning while others are on way from halting station, where they had night stay.
Yesterday, 498 pilgrims had darshan at the cave shrine, they said, adding that with this, a total of 2,17,299 yatris had paid obeisance since July 2.
The weather was pleasant and yatra was progressing smoothly from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks though the number of pilgrims has come down, a yatra official said here.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp for the holy cave. The pilgrims are likely to reach the cave shrine in the afternoon after covering the hilly terrain on foot.
He said pilgrims, who had night halt at the cave shrine after paying obeisance yesterday, have also started their return journey to Baltal base camp early this morning. Similarly, another batch of yatris left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route for holy Cave.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on the track also started their journey towards the shrine early this morning. (AGENCIES)
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