Over 80 lakh pilgrims paid their obeisance at the two holy cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir and the Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra in the year 2015.
"While 3.52 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir, 78 lakh pilgrims visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shine in 2015", Jammu and Kashmir Governor, who is also the chairman of the board of the two shines, N N Vohra said today.
Vohra said that various agencies of the state government and the two Shrine Boards have been actively engaged to provide adequate facilities for the pilgrims, which include arrangements for accommodation, transportation, medical care, sanitation and other necessary services.
He said that if adequate infrastructure facilities were developed a large number of the pilgrims could be attracted encouraged to visit other places of tourist interest in the state.
The Governor stressed that the safety and security of the pilgrims continues to remain the prime concern of the Shrine Boards.
"The tracks to the Holy Cave pass through a very difficult terrain in the high mountains, experiencing hostile and unpredictable climatic conditions and these aspects have to be kept in view while planning the Yatra", he said.
He said that the Shrine Board, with assistance of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been making continuing efforts to disseminate all relevant information to the intending pilgrims from all over India.
The Governor lauded the cooperation extended by the Yatri Niyas and the state administration to the Amarnath Shrine Board for the smooth conduct of Yatra 2015 and urged all the stake holders to strengthen the Shrine Board's efforts in publicising and disseminating various aspects and advisories related to this Yatra.
Vohra also said that the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has always welcomed suggestions from the various stakeholders for further improvement in the facilities provided to the Yatris.
