SRINAGAR : Yatra is likely to cross 3.50 lakh mark this year as fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine at 13500 feet in south Kashmir Himalayas early this morning.
Weather is pleasant and pilgrimage is going on smoothly, a Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told.
He said on the 43rd day 1053 pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine yesterday. With this a total of 3,45,570 Yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave since the commencement of annual yatra from July 2 which will conclude on August 29 on Shravan Purnima.
The number of, pilgrims is likely to cross 3.50 lakh against last year’s 3.41 lakh. The official said fresh batch of yatris, including women and sadhus, also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the 45-km-long track on traditional route. Gates are still open and so far about 200 pilgrims left Pahalgam for the cave shrine till 0700 hrs, he said, adding the number will increase as the day progresses.
Similarly pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandanwari also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning. He said fresh batches of yatris, including women, sadhus and children, left Baltal base camp early this morning for the cave shrine. Pilgrims are scheduled to reach the cave shrine after covering the 16-km-long track on foot this afternoon.
Similarly, pilgrims, who had night halt at cave shrine after paying obeisance yesterday also started their return journey towards base camps early this morning.
Majority of the pilgrims had since returned to their homes while some have extended their stay visiting tourist spots, particularly Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Yusmarg and Mughal gardens. (AGENCIES)
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