43-DAY-LONG PILGRIMAGE TO BEGIN TOMORROW

Baltal route more popular among pilgrims

● Thousands of pilgrims either trek the traditional and longer 45-km-long Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter 14-km-long Baltal route in Ganderbal district to the holy shrine every year.

● Pahalgam is the base camp to the shrine. Chandanwari is at a distance of

16 km from Pahalgam. The track runs along the Lidder river.

● From Chandanwari, the trek becomes much steeper.

● From Chandanwari, pilgrims reach Pissu Top. After trekking 11 km from Chandanwari, after Pissu Top, is the mountain lake of Sheshnag.

● The holy cave is 6 km from Sheshnag and the pilgrims have to climb a steep height across Mahagunas Pass for 4.6 km and then descend to Panjtarni.

● Baltal is more popular among the pilgrims because of its shorter distance.

BALTAL IS STEEP COMPARED TO PAHALGAM

● After pilgrims reach Srinagar, the road to Baltal is via Sonamarg and is 101-km-long.

● The distance from Baltal to the holy cave is 14 km and the trek is steep compared to the Pahalgam route.

● From the Baltal base camp, pilgrims first reach Domel at a distance of 2.75 km. This year the administration shall run free battery car service for the pilgrims.

● From Domel, pilgrims trek six km on hilly terrain to reach Brarimarg and walk another six km to reach the cave shrine.

● Pilgrimage via Baltal track should be undertaken by those very fit.

● This year the board has also decided to put in place a daily route-wise pilgrims ceiling of 10,000, excluding yatris who would travel by helicopters.