Preparations for the annual Amarnath yatra, being held after a gap of three years, have seen a massive scaling up, with officials comparing the arrangements to that of the Kumbh Mela.
Compared to 2.85 lakh pilgrims who visited in 2018, the Jammu & Kashmir administration is expecting eight lakh footfalls this year. The annual pilgrimage, conducted via the twin routes of the famous tourist destinations of Pahalgam and Sonamarg in south and central Kashmir, respectively, was cut short in 2019, ahead of the Centre’s move to abrogate the erstwhile State’s special constitutional position.
The highest ever number of pilgrims 6.35 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine in 2011.
