The ongoing Amarnath Yatra has seen a remarkable turnout, with over 4.4 lakh pilgrims visiting the holy shrine in the past 28 days.
On Saturday, an additional group of 1,771 devotees set out from Jammu towards the Kashmir Valley to continue the sacred journey.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), overseen by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, is responsible for managing the annual pilgrimage.
Since the Yatra commenced on 29 June, SASB officials reported that more than 4.4 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine, with 8,000 Yatris having darshan just on Friday.
This morning, two escorted convoys departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu at 3:25 AM.
The first convoy, comprising 30 vehicles, carried 772 pilgrims to the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir.
The second convoy, consisting of 33 vehicles, transported 999 pilgrims to the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in south Kashmir.
The Amarnath cave shrine, situated at an elevation of 3,888 meters above sea level, is famed for its ice stalagmite formation, which grows and recedes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe this natural formation symbolizes the divine presence of Lord Shiva.
Pilgrims can reach the shrine via two main routes:
- The traditional 48-kilometer path from Pahalgam, which takes four to five days, or
- The shorter 14-kilometer route from Baltal, allowing for a day trip
This year’s Yatra is likely to conclude on 29 August, aligning with the festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
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