SRINAGAR: Pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine is progressing smoothly as fresh batches of pilgrims left base camps for the holy cave in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Weather is pleasant and pilgrimage is going on smoothly, a yatra official said.
A fresh batch of 309 pilgrims, including 73 women, in eight vehicles left Bagwati Nagar, Jammu, base camp for Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camp early this morning under unprecedented security arrangements.
He said fresh batches of pilgrims, though the number was very low, left base camps at Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam for the cave shrine early this morning.
On the 31st day of the 40-day-long pilgrimage, which commenced from June 29, 1,273 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave yesterday.
With this, a total of 2,52,599 pilgrims, including women and sadhus from different parts of the country, had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingm at the cave shrine so far.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at Panjtarni, left for the cave shrine early this morning. Pilgrims are now paying obeisance at the cave shrine since this morning after covering two km distance on foot.
A fresh batch of yatris also left Baltal base camp for the cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims are expected to reach the cave shrine, situated at 14,000 feet in the afternoon after covering 14 km hilly terrain on foot.
Meanwhile, majority of pilgrims, who had preferred to reach the cave shrine from traditional Pahalgam track, are also returning via Baltal track.
Similarly, fresh batch of pilgrims, who had a night halt at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp, have left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track.
Pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional route, have also started their foot journey towards the cave shrine this morning. (AGENCIES)
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