Jammu, August 16: Amid stringent security measures, a contingent of 834 pilgrims set off from a base camp in Jammu today to embark on the revered Amarnath pilgrimage in the Kashmir Valley. The 39th batch, comprising 614 men, 146 women, 67 spiritual seekers, and seven children, commenced their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp. A convoy of 27 vehicles transported them to the Pahalgam and Baltal twin base camps between the hours of 3 am and 3.40 am, according to officials.
Initiated on July 1, the 62-day annual pilgrimage to the lofty 3,888-meter cave shrine in the southern reaches of the Kashmir Himalayas began concurrently from Pahalgam in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district. Of the pilgrims, 586 chose the traditional 48-kilometer Nunwan-Pahalgam route, and their journey was facilitated by 20 vehicles.
The rest, totaling 248 individuals, opted for the more demanding 14-kilometer Baltal route. They departed from Jammu in seven vehicles, all bound for the Amarnath pilgrimage.
As of now, the cave shrine has witnessed the reverence of over 4.25 lakh pilgrims. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 31st.
