Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir): The annual Amarnath Yatra to the cave shrine of Shiva in south Kashmir Himalayas started on Thursday (July 2) withn 8,000 pilgrims from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps on the two routes leaving for the temple. Over 6,000 of them were on Baltal route and 2000 started off from Pahalgam base. The pilgrims included men and women of all ages and a large number of sadhus.
On the second day of the Amarnath yatra on Friday (July 3), 9920 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, taking the total number of devotees to 18,321 yatris since Thursday.
The idol at Amarnath is a naturally formed Shiva linga, of ice stalagmite. It waxes and wanes with the moon. The season starts on the auspicious day of Purshotam Purnima as per the Hindu calendar (this year July 2) and concludes on August 29 marked day Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan day).
The shrine of Amarnath, located at an altitude of 13,000 ft., is 140 km from the State Capital Srinagar, in Anantnag district of Kashmir region of Jammu and Kashmir State. The yatra season will come to an end on August 29.
The pilgrimage, restricted to registrants, is reportedly progessing well in pleasant weather, although at times cloudy. The police, paramilitary forces and army units have been deployed en route to prevent any misadventure by Kashmir secessionist militants.
The first batch of the Amarnath yatra from flagged off from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Wednesday (July 1) in the presence ministers and other dignitaries.
This year the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has entered into a deal with Pawan Hans Limited and Global Vectra Helicorp Limited for helicopter services on the Neelgrath (Baltal)-Panjtarni sector and Himalayan Heli Services Private Limited for Pahalgam-Panjtarni sector. The bookings had started in March last. The
one-way fare is Rs 1950 and Rs 4190 for the routes, respectively. the booking is done online at the companies' websites
(http://www.pawanhans.co.in/site/home.aspx ;
http://www.onlineglobalhelicorp.com/ and http://himalayanheli.com/)
The pilgrims using the copter services are not required to seek advance registration as the tickets are considered as travel permits for Amarnath yatra. However, medical certificate is compulsory.
For pilgrimage to Amarnath by road the pilgrims are required to take registration providing medical certificate and other papers.
Registration is mandatory
SEE STEP-BY-STEP DETAILS .
For on-the-spot registration
SEE
The advance registration is done through designated bank branches. Visit the SASB website for details.
All rules relating to the Amarnath yatra are made by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which is responsible for making all arrangements for the yatris like shelters, security, medical aid and travel facilities.
