Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Over 1800 pilgrims paid obeisance to naturally formed ice lingam of Lord Shiva at holy cave of Swami Amarnath in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on 35th day of darshan today.
According to an Officer on Yatra duty, 1874 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country paid obeisance to Ice Lingam in the holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himlalayas of Kashmir Valley.
He said till date 2,65,937 pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave since the two -month long annual yatra started on June 26.
He said the majority of yatris who performed darshan in the cave shrine today have reached base camp of Baltal while others are on way. There are about 1600 pilgrims staying at Baltal for night halt today and they included those pilgrims also who performed the darshan in holy cave.
He said 571 pilgrims left for holy cave from shortest Baltal track early this morning while 377 left via Chopper during the day. He said the weather in holy cave area was cloudy during the day but the yatra proceeded smoothly.
The officer said that 676 pilgrims left for darshan from Nunwan via traditional Chandanwari -Sheshnag track early this morning for holy cave. Besides, the pilgrims having night stay at Sheshnag and Panjtarni also left for their onwards sojourn early this morning, he added.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 670 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas to twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal Base Camp in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir under tight security measures early this morning, Yatra Nodal Officer, Jammu Arun Manhas said.
He said 657 fresh yatris were registered at three registration counters at Jammu today. They included 64 Sadhus also. Among them 524 preferred the 32 km long Pahalgam -Chandanwari track while 133 preferred shortest 16 km Baltal track.
All these yatris will leave for their respective base camps early tomorrow morning , he added.
The two month -long yatra will culminate on Sawan Purnima coinciding with Rakshabandhan festival falling on August 26 when holy mace of Lord Shiva reaches to the cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
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