The annual Shri Amarnath Yatra began this morning from both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes in Jammu and Kashmir. Lakhs of devotees from across India are expected to undertake the sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine during the 57-day-long pilgrimage.
Pilgrims travel to the holy Amarnath Cave, located at an altitude of nearly 3,888 metres, to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and witness the naturally formed ice Shivling. The Yatra will culminate on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. The first batch of pilgrims left for the Amarnath cave shrine from the twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal this morning. Akashvani correspondent reports that amid chants of Bam Bam Bhole and Har Har Mahadev, thousands of Yatris embarked on a tough but spiritually enriching journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine this morning.
During the 57-day pilgrimage, lakhs of devotees are expected to take up the 48-kilometre route from Nunwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre route from Baltal in Ganderbal district to pay obeisance at the holy shrine.
Along the twin routes, authorities have put in place comprehensive facilities, including medical camps, resting points, langars, drinking water stations, and real-time weather monitoring. Foolproof security arrangements are also in place to ensure the safe conduct of the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, the second batch of Yatris left Jammu this morning and is expected to reach the valley later this afternoon.
