IN PHOTOS: Jammu and Kashmir L-G flags off first batch of Amarnath pilgrims

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar camp here early on Friday morning. Amid multi-layer security, the first batch of more than 3,400 pilgrims left for the twin base camps in Kashmir to undertake the onward journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas See pics (Photo/PTI)

Updated on : 30 June,2023 11:42 AM IST | Compiled by : Anagha Sawant

Pilgrims shout religious slogans while boarding a bus as the first batch of pilgrims leaves for the Amarnath Yatra 2023 (Pic/PTI)

The pilgrims were escorted by CRPF troopers with area domination being done by the Army and police on the highway. The 62-day-long pilgrimage will commence from Kashmir on Saturday on the twin tracks of the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district

As many as 3.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered for the Yatra so far and the number is expected to increase, officials said

In Pic: A sadhu being examined by the paramedical staff at Ram Mandir Amarnath Yatra base camp, in Jammu

Five counters have been established for the tatkal registration of the pilgrims at Vaishnavi Dham, Mahajan Sabha, Panchayat Ghar and two at Geeta Bhawan and Ram Mandir for the registration of saints

In Pic: Sadhua shout religious slogans after boarding a bus as the first batch of pilgrims leaves for the Amarnath Yatra