Service providers reach Baltal ahead of yatra

Baltal, June 27: The service providers for the Amarnath Yatra have reached the Baltal base camp in the Sonamarg area of Ganderbal ahead of the commencement of the yatra.

Like every year hundreds of service providers, most of them local Kashmiris, who are the main facilitators of the yatra, have reached the base camp Baltal, Dumail, and Amarnath cave route and are busy setting up their establishments, mostly makeshift tents and shops.

Dozens of langars (community kitchens) have been set up by non-locals who are waiting to serve the yatris.

Besides, labourers, pony wallas and palanquin wallas have also reached Baltal and are waiting for the yatra to start.

An official said that over 13,000 people, who transport yatris on ponies and palanquins during the yatra have registered to provide services ahead of the yatra to the Amarnath cave shrine.

Hundreds of tent owners and shopkeepers have set up their establishments and are eagerly waiting to receive the Amarnath Yatris

The ponywallas have also reached Baltal and are seen preparing and equipping their horses for the yatra.

Except for some langars that are run by non-locals, Kashmir Muslims remain the sole service providers in facilitating the Amarnath Yatra.

Besides being a business provider for the locals, Amarnath Yatra also showcases the bonding between Kashmiris and the yatris.

Every year tens of thousands of yatris visit the Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir for the annual yatra.

The yatris coming for the yatra have to trek treacherous mountains to reach the Amarnath cave shrine located at an altitude of 12,700 feet.