A fresh batch of 2,324 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Saturday for the Amarnath cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
According to officials, over 3.60 lakh devotees have visited the holy shrine since the start of the 38-day yatra on July 3. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Pilgrim Convoys and Routes
The 24th batch, which included 377 women and 51 Sadhus and Sadhvis, departed between 3:25 am and 3:45 am in 92 vehicles under tight security arrangements by police and CRPF personnel.
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Baltal route: 741 pilgrims in 34 vehicles took the shorter but steeper 14-km trek in Ganderbal district.
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Pahalgam route: 1,583 pilgrims in 58 vehicles set out on the 48-km traditional route in Anantnag district.
Overall Figures
Since July 2, when the yatra was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, 1,39,098 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the valley. However, authorities note a slight decline in footfall in recent days due to the melting of the naturally formed ice Shivling inside the cave.
