Amarnath yatris take Leh route

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 14

Frightened over disturbed conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, some Amaranth Yatris are taking a tough but safe route to reach Baltal via Manali-Leh and Kargil.

So far not many devotees have taken up this route but the pilgrims stuck at the base camp at Baltal due to disturbance in the Valley took the Kargil-Leh-Manali route for the return journey. As per officials at Manali, about 50 to 60 vehicles are reaching Manali from Baltal.

Manali SDM Jyoti Rana said so far over 18 small vehicles had left for Amaranth via Leh and Kargil.

The yatris were also not being charged green fee imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for crossing the Rohtang Pass and similar procedure was being followed for the vehicles coming from the Leh and Kargil side, she said.

Anil Sharma, involved in tourism and allied activities for past two decades, says, “No doubt, the route is longer and tough but it will be a safe route for pilgrims.”

However, adequate supply of oxygen was a problem for pilgrims not accustomed to travelling in high-altitude terrain, he said.

The distance of Baltal via Manali-Leh-Kargil was 1,150 km and it takes nearly four days to reach Baltal. Pilgrims have to trek to reach the cave. During the Kargil war, this route was used by the Army for transporting the supplies to Leh and Ladakh areas.