Home / Lifestyle / Culture / Photos / IN PHOTOS: Annual Amarnath Yatra begins as first batches of pilgrims leave base camps

IN PHOTOS: Annual Amarnath Yatra begins as first batches of pilgrims leave base camps

Updated On: 03 July, 2026 02:40 PM IST | Haren Sharma

The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Friday as the first batches of pilgrims left the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to start their journey to the 3,880 metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas that houses a naturally formed ice lingam

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Pilgrims set off from Baltal and Nunwan as the annual Amarnath Yatra begins, climbing toward the 3,880-metre high cave. Photo courtesy: PTI and AFP
Pilgrims set off from Baltal and Nunwan as the annual Amarnath Yatra begins, climbing toward the 3,880-metre high cave. Photo courtesy: PTI and AFP
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On Thursday, the first batch of over 4,809 pilgrims was flagged off from the yatra base camp in Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha

On Thursday, the first batch of over 4,809 pilgrims was flagged off from the yatra base camp in Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha

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The yatra started early morning from the twin tracks the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route even as it rained intermittently

The yatra started early morning from the twin tracks the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route even as it rained intermittently

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The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir''s Ganderbal, at the first light of the day

The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir''s Ganderbal, at the first light of the day

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The chants of ''bum bum bole'' filled the air as the batches were flagged off by the respective deputy commissioners and SSPs from the base camp

The chants of ''bum bum bole'' filled the air as the batches were flagged off by the respective deputy commissioners and SSPs from the base camp

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They will pay obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses the naturally formed ice lingam formation

They will pay obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses the naturally formed ice lingam formation

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Expressing joy ahead of the pilgrimage, one of the devotees said the opportunity to visit the holy cave shrine of Baba Barfani was a blessing.

Expressing joy ahead of the pilgrimage, one of the devotees said the opportunity to visit the holy cave shrine of Baba Barfani was a blessing.

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