Jammu, July 9: Over two lakh devotees performed the annual Amarnath Yatra during the last 10 days since it started on June 29, said a Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) official.
Another batch of 5,433 Yatris departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas this morning in two escorted convoys and headed to the Valley, he added.
According to the official, the first convoy, comprising 1,971 Yatris in 89 vehicles, left at 3:13 a.m. for the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir. The second convoy, with 3,462 Yatris in 124 vehicles, departed at 4:03 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in south Kashmir.
The Meteorological Department has predicted partially cloudy weather along both Yatra routes, with a chance of light rain throughout the day.
Notably, Yatris can choose between the 48-km traditional Pahalgam cave shrine route or the shorter 14-km Baltal cave shrine route for the Yatra. The journey along the Pahalgam route takes four days to reach the cave shrine, whereas those opting for the Baltal route can return to the base camp on the same day after having ‘darshan’ inside the cave shrine.
