In Jammu and Kashmir, the 18th batch of over 6500 pilgrims left for the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, Jammu early today morning for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir. A total of 6523 pilgrims including 4745 Male, 1685 Female, 3 Children, 81 Sadhus and 9 Sadhvis left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for Kashmir valley in a cavalcade of 262 vehicles under tight security arrangements.
 
Among them, 2777 pilgrims preferred the shortest Baltal track, while 3746 opted for the traditional and longest Nunwan-Pahalgam route. So far a total of 2,67,499 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath Cave Shrine since 1st July. The 62 day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888 metre high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1 and is scheduled to conclude on August 31 on Shravan Purnima with Raksha Bandhan festival. 
 
The yatra is progressing smoothly, with devotees from across the country thronging the base camps to have a glimpse of the naturally formed Ice-Shivlingam and offer their prayers.