Yatra to holy cave progressing smoothly, number of pilgrims drops

A woman pilgrim being carried in a palanquin to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji at Pishoo Top on Thursday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar
A woman pilgrim being carried in a palanquin to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji at Pishoo Top on Thursday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar

 

SRINAGAR:  Fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps to pay obeisance at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 2.49 lakh yatris had darshan since the commencement of the 40-day-long pilgrimage from June 29.

         Meanwhile, lowest number of 393 pilgrims left Bagwati Nagar, Jammu, base camp for Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps early this morning, official sources said.

           They said the weather was pleasant and fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave shrine early this morning.

     They said yesterday, on the 29th day of the 40-day-long Yatra lowest number 1603 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. The number of yatries undertaking the piligrimage has dropped during the past one week.

     Pilgrims, who had left Panjterni early this morning after night halt, are paying obeisance since early this morning after covering two km distance on foot, they said.

         With this over 2,49,755 Yatris had darshan at the Holy Cave since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from June 29 from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks.

         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 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)