SRINAGAR, July 3 -- The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday as thousands of enthusiastic pilgrims set out from the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan towards the holy Amarnath cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir.

The yatra started early in the morning via two routes - the traditional 48-kilometre track from Nunwan in Pahalgam (Anantnag district) and the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route in Sonamarg (Ganderbal district).

Devotees, including men, women, and sadhus, left the camps at first light, chanting "Bum Bum Bhole" in devotion to Lord Shiva. Officials from both camps flagged off the batches amid tight security and religious fervour.

A day earlier, on July 2, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagg...