A fresh batch of 4,821 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp early Friday for the Amarnath shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 22nd batch, which included 3,259 men, 1,482 women, and eight children, departed at 3:05 am in a convoy of 150 vehicles escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Of these pilgrims, 3,090 will travel to Pahalgam to undertake the yatra from the traditional 48-km route in Anantnag district, while 1,701 have chosen the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
So far this year, over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the naturally formed ice lingam at the cave shrine. Last year, more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine.
The Amarnath Yatra commenced on June 29 and is scheduled to conclude on August 19.