Srinagar, July 23 (IANS) Over 350,000 people have visited the Amarnath cave shrine in the Kashmir valley since the two-month-long pilgrimage began June 5.
“So far more than 350,000 pilgrims have performed the yatra. It has been going on smoothly,” an official of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the shrine said Thursday.

Pilgrims from both the Baltal base camp in north Kashmir and the Pahalgam base camp in south Kashmir are daily proceeding to the shrine, assisted by hundreds of local Muslims who give people headed to the shrine a ride on their ponies and even carry the sick and infirm.

The Himalayan cave houses an ice stalagmite structure reverentially known as the Shivalingam, which the Hindu devotees believe symbolises Lord Shiva.

A helicopter service to ferry pilgrims from Pahalgam to Panchtarni was started Wednesday, while a similar service is already available to those who use the Baltal route in north Kashmir.

“The arrangements made by the authorities are quite good, but the best part of the yatra is the help and assistance provided to us by the local Muslims,” said Rajesh Kumar, 46, who belongs to Hissar (Haryana).

At places like Wayil, Manigam, Mamar, Kangan and Gund along the 84-km road from summer capital Srinagar to Baltal, many makeshift tea-stalls, fruit stalls and cold drink stalls have been set up by the locals.

“Nearly 4,000 pilgrims have been using the Baltal route daily to reach the cave,” said a police officer.

While it takes four days of uphill trekking for the pilgrims to reach the cave shrine from the Pahalgam route, those using the Baltal route return to the base camp after offering prayers at the shrine within just one day.

This year’s pilgrimage started June 5 via the north Kashmir route, while the Pahalgam route was cleared of snow and thrown open for pilgrims June 15.

Authorities of the SASB and local administration have made elaborate arrangements for weather forecasting, free kitchens for the pilgrims, tents and toilets at the base camps.

The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police have set up camps at various places along the pilgrimage routes to provide security and assistance to the pilgrims.