Jammu, July 31 (HS). Another batch of 1,654 pilgrims left for the Amarnath cave pilgrimage from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. The number of pilgrims visiting the Amarnath cave temple to have darshan of Lord Shiva has crossed 4.66 lakh, which is more than the total number of pilgrims who visited the naturally formed ice Shivling last year. Last year this number was 4.59 lakh.
The 34th batch of pilgrims left the Jammu base camp at 3:20 am on Wednesday in a convoy of 51 vehicles under the protection of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Out of the batch of 1654 pilgrims, 456 pilgrims left for Baltal Base Camp and 1198 pilgrims left for Pahalgam Base Camp from Jammu from where they will proceed for their onward journey to the Holy Cave.
The number of pilgrims visiting the ice Shivling in the holy cave of Amarnath during the yatra so far this year has crossed 4.66 lakh, while last year the number was 4.59 lakh. The 52-day annual yatra formally began on June 29 and will end on August 19.