Amarnath Yatra Begins: 6,000 Pilgrims Expected To Perform Darshan At Holy Cave On Day 1

amarnath yatra begins: 6,000 pilgrims expected to perform darshan at holy cave on day 1

Srinagar: Amarnath Yatra 2024 kicked off on Saturday, with first batch of pilgrims leaving for Holy Cave from Pahalgam base camp in Jammu and Kashmir. Around three thousand left for the Amarnath Darshan and on the first day, more than six thousand pilgrims are expected to perform Darshan at the Amarnath cave.

Amarnath Yatra

Every year, devotees head to the Himalayas in droves for the annual Amarnath Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 2024 Amarnath Yatra will start this year on June 29th and conclude on August 19th.

An arduous journey that lasts 52 days, the Amarnath Yatra is a revered Hindu pilgrimage undertaken to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, located in the South Kashmir Himalayas. The cave, located at a distance of 29 kms from Pahalgam, is surrounded by glaciers, snowy mountains and is covered with snow most of the year, except for a short period in the summer, when it is open to pilgrims. For many devotees, it's a lifetime dream to witness the naturally formed ice lingam enshrined within the cave.

Transportation Routes for Amarnath Yatra

For those seeking a swifter mode of transportation, helicopter services are available for both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The helicopter services for the north Kashmir Baltal route will operate on the Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath sector, whereas for the Pahalgam route, services will be available on the Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam sector. Devotees opting for helicopter services must obtain a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) issued by authorised doctors as per SASB guidelines and carry an original identity card. This year, bookings for Amarnath Yatra 2024 were started on April 15th, according to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.