SRINAGAR : The annual Amarnath yatra is progressing smoothly as fresh batches of pilgrims left base camps for the holy Cave in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 1.77 lakh yatries had paid obeisance since the commencement of the pilgrimage from June 29.
Meanwhile, over 4,100 yatris left Bagwati Nagar base camp, Jammu early this morning for Baltal and Nunwan base camps in Kashmir, a yatra official said here.
The yatra was progressing smoothly from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks and the weather was pleasant, he said. He said on the 15th day of yatra yesterday, 9,197 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine from both tracks.
With this, a total of 1,77,134 pilgrims had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam so far. Majority of the pilgrims had since returned to their homes.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at Panjterni on traditional route are paying obeisance at the cave shrine since early this morning.
Fresh batch of yatries left Baltal for the cave shrine early today to reach the cave shrine after covering the 14-km hilly track on foot. The pilgrims are expected to reach the cave shrine, situated at 14000 feet in the afternoon.
Majority of the yatris will try to return to base camp after paying obeisance while other will have night stay in the camp near the cave shrine.
Pilgrims who had reached the cave from traditional track are also preferring to return via Baltal track. Similarly, fresh batch of pilgrims who had a night halt at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp also left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track.
Meanwhile, 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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