Over 6.17 lakh pilgrims visit Amarnath cave shrine

"As many as 6,17,663 pilgrims visited the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam by last evening," officials said.

They said the yatra was going on smoothly when last reports were received with 'Chhari Mubarak', the holy mace of Lord Shiva, reaching 3,657 metre Panjtarni -- a spacious and picturesque camping ground with the Amarnath cave only six kilometres away.

After night halt at Panjtarni, the holy mace, being carried by its custodian Mahant Deepinder Giri and accompanied by over 300 sadhus and pilgrims, will resume its journey towards the cave early tomorrow.

At the cave, special prayers will be offered to the naturally formed ice-shivlingam along with the Chhari, marking the conclusion of the annual yatra.

The yatra, this year, started on June 25 from the twin tracks of Baltal in Ganderbal district and traditional Pahalgam in Anantnag district.

Over 130 yatris and two porters lost their lives during the yatra. They included 31 pilgrims who were killed in two separate road accidents while returning to their homes last month.

A record number of 6.35 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine last year, while the previous record for the highest number of pilgrims in one year was set in 2005 when 5.31 lakh yatris visited the shrine.