The first batch of pilgrims bound for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath left the north Kashmir Baltal base camp on their uphill 14-kilometre track as the two-month long annual pilgrimage got underway in Srinagar [Images] on Tuesday.

This is the first time that the Amarnath yatra is being held for a two-month period.

As the pilgrimage from the Baltal route got underway, the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route would be available for the pilgrims' use from July 6 onwards.

State governor Lieutenant-General (retired) S K Sinha flew to the cave shrine on Tuesday morning to have a glimpse of the frozen ice lingam inside the cave, which symbolises Lord Shiva's [Images] mystical powers.

The governor is also the chairman of the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board that organises the annual pilgrimage.

For the culmination of the pilgrimage, the holy mace of Lord Shiva is carried by hundreds of devotees in a procession to the cave. This coincides with Shravan Purnima on the Raksha Bandhan day.

The state administration has made adequate arrangements en route for the pilgrims.

Police and security forces have set-up checkpoints for smooth passage of pilgrims. Medical camps, telephone booths and fresh drinking water points have already been set-up.