The famous Ram Mandir in the old city reverberates with chants in praise of Lord Shiva as Sadhus from across the country have started reaching here to take part in the annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
The 52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks –the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — on June 29. A day ahead, the first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp and Ram Mandir for the valley.
The shrine houses the naturally formed ice-shivlingam and over 4.5 lakh pilgrims paid their obeisance at the 3,880 meter high shrine last year.
The temple head Mahant Rameshwar Dass said all necessary arrangements including the round-the-clock free community kitchen service and medical facilities are in place for the Sadhus, expressing confidence in a trouble-free yatra.
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