First batches of pilgrims are released from Baltal and Nunwan base camps to begin the Amarnath Yatra.

Baltal, July 1: Under tighter security, the 62-day Amarnath Yatra to the sacred cave shrine in the south Kashmir Mountains began on Saturday.

Around dawn, joyful pilgrims started the journey to the Amarnath Cave Shrine, which is located at an elevation of 3880 metres among the great Himalayan hills. Chants of "Bam Bam Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev" resonated throughout the air.

There were men, women, sadhus, old, and young pilgrims. Senior members of the UT Administration, including Dr. Raghav Langer, Secretary of the Planning, Development, and Monitoring Department, DC Ganderbal, SSP Ganderbal, and Camp Director Baltal, flagged off the first group of pilgrims for the Amarnath shrine from Domail, Baltal Ganderbal. The first group of pilgrims was flagged off from the Nunwan base camp at Pahalgam in the southern Kashmiri district of Anantnag by Secretary of Revenue Dr. Piyush Singla, who is also the Nodal officer for the yatra from the Anantnag side.

As they saw the arrangements in place, the yatris were ecstatic. The fact that the locals are providing the yatris with complete support and coordination made them delighted as well.

The majority of pilgrims expressed gratitude for the preparations offered by the J&K UT administration and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

According to officials, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and the UT administration have made all necessary measures to guarantee a peaceful pilgrimage to the ice-lingam at the cave sanctuary, which was formed naturally.

The shortest route is through Ganderbal district, in the centre of Kashmir. While it takes some pilgrims many days to go from the Pahalgam base camp to the cave, those who use the Baltal path return the same day following their "Darshan" to the base camp.