The First batch begins the journey from Baltal base camp…
On Saturday, 01 July 2023, the annual Amarnath Yatra began with the first batch of pilgrims for the cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Deputy Commissioner flagged off the 62-day pilgrimage, Ganderbal, Shyambir, along with senior officials of the Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board and the police, at the Baltal base camp.
Baltal is in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
It is one of the twin routes for the annual pilgrimage. The other one is the Pahalgam route in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The pilgrims will undertake a 12-km journey from the base camp to the holy cave shrine located at an altitude of about 13,000 feet.
All arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, including security, have been checked.
Deputy Commissioner Shyambir said about 6,000 yatris arrived at the base camp. "I hope the yatra goes on smoothly. I request the yatris to carry their RFID cards," he told reporters.
Shyambir also said that volunteers and mountain rescue teams were posted throughout the track.
The yatris can take their help, he added.
The official also said that the yatra would not be possible without the support of the local people out there.
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