Pahalgam, Baltal basecamps Welcome Amarnath Pilgrims
Deccan ChroniclePahalgam : Pahalgam wore a festive look as hundreds of Hindu worshippers received a warm welcome upon their arrival in the scenic Kashmir Valley’s premier resort on Friday, before their treading upon the mountain trails run northeast to the Amarnath cave-shrine. Situated on the banks of gushing Lidder River, the Gauri Shankar temple like the nearby centuries-old Mamleshwar temple, also dedicated to Lord Shiva, become a major attraction during the annual Amarnath Yatra. Another convoy of pilgrims has halted at a Yatri Niwas of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk area before leaving for the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district. Earlier on Friday, J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar with the prayer: “May the blessings of Baba Amarnathj bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone’s life”. Already, thousands of pilgrims are camping at Baltal, Srinagar, Nunwan, Pahalgam, Chandanwari and other places in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district and Ganderbal district to embark on the “journey of faith and devotion”.