Amarnath Yatra broke last year's record, more than 4.51 lakh devotees visited Baba Barfani in 29 days

The Amarnath Yatra, which started on the 29th of June, is going on pretty well with a smooth flow. The Amarnath has ushered a record this year -4.51 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance in the last 29 days. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board officials said that more than 4.51 lakh devotees have visited the holy cave in the past 29 days ever since the yatra started on June 29, breaking the record of last year's yatra. Last year, 4.45 lakh devotees visited the holy cave temple during the entire yatra period.

On Saturday, around 8,000 pilgrims visited the holy cave, but on Sunday another batch of 1,677 pilgrims left for the valley from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu. This was the least number of pilgrims to visit the valley this year since the yatra began on June 29, officials said. Among them, as many as 408 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir at 3.35 am in a convoy of 24 vehicles. The second batch of 1,269 pilgrims left for Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in south Kashmir in as many as 43 vehicles.

This year, the yatra is proceeding peacefully and smoothly due to the extraordinary security arrangements by CAPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Inside the cave temple, there is an ice structure that keeps on fluctuating with the phases of the moon. Devotees think this ice structure represents the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

This cave is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. Devotees reach the cave temple either through the traditional South Kashmir Pahalgam route or the North Kashmir Baltal route.

The traditional Pahalgam cave temple route is 48 kilometers long. It takes 4 to 5 days to reach Baba Barfani. The second route is Baltal. It is 14 kilometers long. People choosing this route return to the base camp the same day after doing 'darshan'. This year's yatra will conclude after 52 days on August 19 with Shravan Purnima and Rakshabandhan festival.