On the first day of the Amarnath yatra, 8,916 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave today, officials said.
As many as 12,576 pilgrims started their arduous trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath from the traditional route of Pahalgam in south Kashmir and the shortest route from Baltal on the Srinagar-Leh axis.
The yatra was formally flagged off from both the base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal by the respective Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal at the dawn. Those undertaking the yatra from the traditional trek from Pahalgam would have a night halt en route to the holy cave before paying obeisance and have “darshan” of the ice Lingam of Lord Shiva tomorrow. Most of those going from Baltal returned to the base camp at Baltal by the same evening.
A total of 5,090 pilgrims were flagged off from the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam at 5:30 am today. They included 507 women and 120 sadhus. All the pilgrims crossed Chandanwari by 11 am, after which the entrance point was closed for the pilgrims’ movement to ensure their safety, officials said. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Syed Abdi Shah said the movement of Amarnath pilgrims was going on smoothly.
Similarly, 7,486 pilgrims constituted the first batch of the pilgrims that were flagged off from the Baltal base camp, near Sonmarg, on the Srinagar-Leh highway at 5:30 am. By 9:30 am all the pilgrims had crossed the Domeil crossing point to undertake the 14 km-long arduous trek to the holy cave shrine. Several pilgrims visited the cave shrine by taking helicopter services from Baltal to the cave shrine. Many pilgrims, who start their pilgrimage via the traditional route of Pahalgam, return via this shortest trek, said the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Tariq Hussain, who flagged off the first batch at Baltal.
As many as 12,576 pilgrims started their arduous trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath from the traditional route of Pahalgam in south Kashmir and the shortest route from Baltal on the Srinagar-Leh axis.
The yatra was formally flagged off from both the base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal by the respective Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal at the dawn. Those undertaking the yatra from the traditional trek from Pahalgam would have a night halt en route to the holy cave before paying obeisance and have “darshan” of the ice Lingam of Lord Shiva tomorrow. Most of those going from Baltal returned to the base camp at Baltal by the same evening.
A total of 5,090 pilgrims were flagged off from the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam at 5:30 am today. They included 507 women and 120 sadhus. All the pilgrims crossed Chandanwari by 11 am, after which the entrance point was closed for the pilgrims’ movement to ensure their safety, officials said. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Syed Abdi Shah said the movement of Amarnath pilgrims was going on smoothly.
Similarly, 7,486 pilgrims constituted the first batch of the pilgrims that were flagged off from the Baltal base camp, near Sonmarg, on the Srinagar-Leh highway at 5:30 am. By 9:30 am all the pilgrims had crossed the Domeil crossing point to undertake the 14 km-long arduous trek to the holy cave shrine. Several pilgrims visited the cave shrine by taking helicopter services from Baltal to the cave shrine. Many pilgrims, who start their pilgrimage via the traditional route of Pahalgam, return via this shortest trek, said the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Tariq Hussain, who flagged off the first batch at Baltal.