First batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave in Kashmir

July 23rd, 2009 SRINAGAR - 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.

July 9th, 2009 SRINAGAR - A helicopter crashed near the Amarnath cave shrine Thursday morning killing one woman pilgrim on the spot and wounding five occupants, police said. The helicopter took off from north Kashmir's Baltal base camp early this morning, but crashed nearly 500 metres short of the helipad near the cave shrine, killing one woman on the ground and wounding all the five occupants including the captain, a senior police officer said.

July 6th, 2009 SRINAGAR - A day after the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage was temporarily halted due to bad weather, nearly 10,000 Hindu pilgrims left for the Himalayan cave shrine in the Kashmir valley on a sunny Monday. Weather improved a lot Monday and there was no downpour on the Amarnath cave temple track, said a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the affairs of the pilgrimage.

July 3rd, 2009 SRINAGAR - The ongoing annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine was suspended from the south Kashmir's Pahalgam route Friday due to snowfall on the mountain track. A spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the affairs of the two-month long pilgrimage, said four to six inches of snowfall was recorded Friday morning at Wavbal, Mahagunas Top and Poshpatri on the south Kashmir Pahalgam route to the cave.

June 25th, 2009 SRINAGAR/JAMMU - The ongoing annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas will be allowed also through the traditional Pahalgam route from Friday, officials said Thursday. The pilgrimage began June 16 from the north Kashmir town of Baltal, the shorter and steeper route to the temple located at the altitude of 13,500 feet.

June 24th, 2009 SRINAGAR - As many as 50,000 pilgrims have visited the holy Amarnath cave shrine since June 15 when the pilgrimage officially began and with the weather improving in the valley, authorities have decided to allow over 10,000 pilgrims daily from Baltal base camp, officials said Wednesday. "We have been allowing over 10,000 yatris (pilgrims) to visit the holy cave daily from the north Kashmir Baltal base camp since the last two days as the weather along the 14-km long track from the base camp to the cave shrine has improved remarkably now," a senior police officer told IANS here.

June 23rd, 2009 SRINAGAR - Two paramilitary troopers died and four others received injuries Tuesday when the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir Tuesday. The pilgrims, who were in the bus returning from the Amarnath cave temple, escaped unhurt, police said.

June 22nd, 2009 JAMMU - The ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave temple in the Kashmir Valley was halted for a day Monday from here due to heavy rush of pilgrims on north Kashmir Baltal route. There was a heavy rush of pilgrims at Baltal, the only route opened for the Hindu shrine as suspense continued over the opening of the south Kashmir Pahalgam route.

June 19th, 2009 SRINAGAR - The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir continued smoothly Friday as Governor N.N. Vohra and about 6,000 pilgrims offered prayers there.

June 16th, 2009 SRINAGAR - The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas was halted Tuesday due to inclement weather as heavy rain lashed the mountainous track to the temple. The temple board advised the pilgrims not to proceed to the north Kashmir Baltal base camp Wednesday as incessant rains and adverse weather conditions led to slippery conditions on the 14-km long trek to the cave shrine.

June 15th, 2009 JAMMU - Amid shouts of "Bam bam bhole", the traditional cry hailing Hindu god Shiva, the first batch of more than 2,500 pilgrims left early Monday morning for this year's annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir. Pilgrims from various parts of the country, especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana moved in 73 vehicles - 43 buses and 30 light motors - on their nearly 400 km journey from Jammu to Baltal.

June 12th, 2009 JAMMU/SRINAGAR - The annual Amarnath pilgrimage that attracts tens of thousands of Hindus will start June 15 from Baltal, taking the shorter and steeper route to the Himalayan cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, it was announced here Friday. "The first batch of the pilgrims will leave Jammu on June 15 and would reach the cave shrine on June 16," a spokesman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said in a release.

June 12th, 2009 JAMMU - The annual Amarnath pilgrimage that attracts tens of thousands of Hindus will start June 15 from Baltal, taking the shorter and steeper route to the Himalayan cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, it was announced here Friday. Pilgrims taking the traditional route of Pahalgam via Sheshnag and Mahagunus pass at a height of 14,000 feet will set out June 21.

June 5th, 2009 SRINAGAR - Ahead of the bi-annual Amarnath pilgrimage starting mid-June, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has beefed up security to ensure an unhindered Yatra for pilgrims. "We have stepped up our security set up for smooth conduct and incident-free Yatra from Lakhanpur, Jammu to Amarnath cave in south Kashmir.

May 13th, 2009 SRINAGAR - The annual two-month pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath will commence on June 7. The yatra will conclude on August 5, Raksha Bandhan.