Jammu, July 24: The ongoing Amarnath Yatra has been proceeding peacefully since it began on June 29. On Wednesday morning, another batch of 2,907 pilgrims departed from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys.
Officials reported, "The first convoy, escorted and carrying 1,134 Yatris in 41 vehicles, departed for the north Kashmir Baltal base camp. Simultaneously, the second convoy, escorted and carrying 1,773 Yatris in 62 vehicles, departed for the south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp. Both convoys left Jammu at 4:40 A.M. today."
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that changes in size with the phases of the moon, symbolizing the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. Located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas, devotees approach the shrine either via the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route or the north Kashmir Baltal route.
The Pahalgam-Cave shrine journey spans 48 km and typically takes Yatris four to five days. On the other hand, the Baltal-Cave shrine route is 14 km long, allowing pilgrims to complete the journey and return to the base camp within a day.
