Rain Hits Amarnath Yatra Route in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir

On July 5, the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, experienced rain during the seventh day of the Amarnath Yatra. This annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas is organized by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

The Yatra has two routes: one through Pahalgam and the other via Baltal, which serves as a camping ground for pilgrims. According to the Srinagar Meteorological Department, Pahalgam recorded a maximum temperature of 20.3 degrees Celsius on July 5.

Another group of pilgrims left from the Pantha Chowk Yatra base camp in Srinagar under heightened security. They were singing devotional songs and hymns as they headed along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir.

This year, the Yatra is taking place amidst recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. At the Srinagar Base Camp, a pilgrim named Jagveer Sisodia expressed gratitude to the local administration for the facilities provided. He said, “I am heading to Pahalgam. We have been provided with good facilities upon reaching here. Langar (a communal meal) facility is also good. I pray for the smooth conduct of the Yatra. Lot of gratitude to the Army soldiers.”

Another pilgrim, Nikhil Sisodia from Indore, said, “I am going to pay obeisance. I have come here for the first time. The food and accommodation facilities here are up to the mark. Security has been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra. I will pray for something good.”

The Yatra started on June 29 and will end on August 19, lasting 52 days. Devotees of Lord Shiva undertake this arduous annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine located in the Kashmir Himalayas in July-August. The administration is ensuring the safety and well-being of the pilgrims amidst heightened security concerns and the challenging terrain of the route.