Jammu: The 17th batch of over 5,800 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu city on Saturday for the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir amid tight security.
The 43-day-long pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas commenced on June 30 from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
So far, over 1.65 lakh devotees have offered prayers at the Cave Shrine, an official said.
The pilgrimage is scheduled to end on 11 August on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. (Agencies)
