Amarnath Yatra Kicks Off, First Batch Of Pilgrims Leave Base Camps For Cave Shrine

The Amarnath Yatra, which began on Saturday, will end on August 19, coinciding with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

Amarnath Yatra 2024: The Amarnath Yatra began on Saturday as the first batch of pilgrims left the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to start their journey to the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The yatra started early morning from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route.

According to officials, the batches of pilgrims on the twin routes were flagged off by the respective deputy commissioners along with senior police and civil administration officials, as reported by news agency PTI.

Anantnag DC Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Nunwan base camp on Saturday.

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had flagged off the first batch of 4,603 pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu. The pilgrims reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and received a rousing welcome from the administration and locals. The pilgrims will pay obeisance at the cave shrine which houses the naturally formed ice-lingam. The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19.

Stringent security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the yatra. According to PTI, thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure foolproof security. Aerial surveillance will also be carried out.

Amarnath Yatra 

The 52-day-long Amarnath Yatra begins on June 29 and ends on August 19, coinciding with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

For the yatra, pilgrims take either the 48-km long traditional Pahalgam-Cave Shrine route or the shorter 14-km long Baltal-Cave Shrine route. Those pilgrims who prefer the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the cave shrine, while those who take the Baltal route reach back the same day after having 'darshan' inside the cave shrine.

The cave shrine, situated 3,888 metres above sea level, houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

According to news agency IANS, more than 124 'Langars' (community kitchens) have been set up along both routes and also at the transit camps and the cave shrine. More than 7,000 'Sevadars' (volunteers) are serving the Yatris during this year's Yatra.

To manage the rush of the Yatris, the Railways have decided to add additional trains starting July 3. Helicopter services are also available for the Yatris on both routes.