More than 8,000 yatris leave for holy Amarnath Cave shrine

SRINAGAR, JULY 02: Amidst chanting of  Bam Bam Bholay and Har Har Mahadev, more than 8,000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, today left Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal base camps for holy Amarnath cave shrine to pay obeisance. The weather was pleasant though sky was cloudy, officials said, adding that all arrangements are in place for smooth and peaceful 59-day-long pilgrimage. They said yatris, who left Baltal base camp early this morning, will cover the 16-km-long track to reach the holy cave situated at 13,500 feet to have the darshan of self-made Ice-Shivlingam.         However, a number of yatris will prefer to stay at the camp near the shrine to start return journey tomorrow. Similarly pilgrims, who left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp, will have a night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional 45-km-long track.