Srinagar: Over 6,000 pilgrims left Jammu for the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas on Tuesday, the fourth day of the yatra, amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
A total of 6,537 pilgrims, including 5091 men, 1102 women, 19 children, 301 sadhus and 24 sadhvis left Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in a fleet of 261 vehicles towards Baltal in Sonmarg and Nunwan in Pahalgam Base Camps in Kashmir.
The paramilitary and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel are ensuring security on the 300 km Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
The journey is considered to be one of the most challenging routes where pilgrims can choose between two routes, the traditional 46-km Pahalgam route and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route.
Among those who left for the yatra today, 2,106 pilgrims opted for the Baltal route in Sonmarg, Ganderbal and remaining 4,431 took the traditional Pahalgam route in Chandanwadi of Anantnag district. They started their journey at 3 am.
Devoted to Lord Shiva, this annual pilgrimage is considered to be the toughest in India. The journey starts from Pahalgam, passes through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni and finally reaches the Amarnath Cave. It is believed that the natural ice stalagmite here is a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Since the Amarnath Yatra started on June 29, a total of 17,689 devotees paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine in last three days and the figure rose to 26,226 in the last four days. The yatra will culminate on August 19.
Read more
4,603 Pilgrims Visit Amarnath Shrine On First Day Of Yatra
