JAMMU: On July 20, a fresh group of 3,471 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu, headed for the sacred Amarnath cave shrine. The pilgrims, chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole,' set off in a convoy of 114 vehicles, bound for both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. Among the pilgrims, 1,073 took the Baltal route, while 2,398 chose the Pahalgam route, both under tight security. This year's Amarnath Yatra spans 52 days and will conclude on August 19. This latest group marks the 23rd batch of pilgrims, which includes 93 sadhus and 34 Sadhvis. They left the base camp at 3 AM, escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Last year, over 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the Amarnath shrine. The journey to the cave shrine can be undertaken via the traditional 48-km route from Pahalgam in Anantnag district or the shorter but steeper 14-km route from Baltal in Ganderbal district. Latest Updates: Amarnath Yatra 2024: New Batch of Pilgrims Begin Sacred Journey Amid Tight Security Amarnath Yatra 2024: Enhanced Mobile Network Coverage in Jammu Kashmir Special Traffic Advisory Issued for Amarnath Yatra Convoy and Non-Convoy Movement