SRINAGAR : Amid chanting of devotional songs, fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas early this morning.
Though the number of pilgrims had witnessed decrease during the past few weeks, it was still in three digit and the number of yatra is likely to cross 3.50 lakh this time, about 10,000 more than last year.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told UNI that 528 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine during the 48th day of pilgrimage yesterday. With this, a total of 3,48,622 Yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave since the commencement of the 59-day-long annual pilgrimage from July 2.
Weather is pleasant and the yatra is going on smoothly from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks, yatra official said.
He said fresh batch of yatris, who had night halt at Baltal base camp, left for the cave shrine early this morning , singing religious songs.
The pilgrims are scheduled to reach the cave shrine to pay obeisance in the afternoon.
The pilgrims, who had night halt near cave shrine, have also started their return journey to base camp this morning.
He said pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on 45-km-long traditional yatra track. However, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandnawari and other halting station on the track have also started their journey towards the cave shrine early this morning. (AGENCIES)
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