SRINAGAR:Pilgrimage was going on smoothly to holy Amarnath cave shrine, situated at 13,500 feet, in south Kashmir Himalayas, where over 2.04 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance. Yesterday, 17,515 yatris had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam. This was, however, about 3,000 more the number of pilgrims fixed by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) per day. With this, a total of about 2.04 lakh pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, from different parts of the country, had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 59-day-long pilgrimage from July 2, at the cave shrine, where the lingan has started melting due to increase in the mercury.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told that fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalagam base camps for the cave shrine early this morning.
Majority of these pilgrims had since returned to Baltal base camp after darshan while others have started their foot journey to base camp this morning after night halt near cave shrine. He said fresh batch of yatris , including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp early this morning.
Pilgrims, on foot, horse backs and dandies, will reach the cave shrine after covering about 16-km-long track today.
Though many of them will have a night halt near cave shrine others will return to camp after darshan of ice-shivlingam. He said majority of pilgrims, including those who preferred traditional Pahalgam track, are also returning via Baltal route after paying obeisance at the holy cave.
Pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp early this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional 45-km-long track. However, those, who had night halt at Chandanwari, also started onward foot journey to next halting camp.
Majority of pilgrims had since returned to their home, while others are visiting tourist resorts in the valley, particularly Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. (AGENCIES)
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