Garh jungle in W Burdwan to be developed into religious tourism circuit
The West Bengal government will develop a heritage religious tourism circuit at Garh Jungle in the West Burdwan district, modelled after the Kashi Vishwanath Temple circuit.
The West Bengal government will develop a heritage religious tourism circuit at Garh Jungle in the West Burdwan district, modelled after the Kashi Vishwanath Temple circuit.
Amid rain and cold weather, the annual Amarnath Yatra commenced early morning on Friday, with the first batches of pilgrims leaving the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. The mountainous cave shrine houses a naturally formed ice lingam.
Two pilgrims participating in the Chardham Yatra died on Sunday, the opening day of the 2026 pilgrimage season, reportedly due to suspected asphyxia.
A two - wheeler and a car were also damaged in the collision, a police spokesman said.
Gangasagar Island continued to witness an overwhelming influx of pilgrims on Thursday, the second day of the holy bath following the main Makar Sankranti Shahi Snan, as the auspicious period extended this year.
After the Centre unveiled the ‘Haj Policy 2025’ yesterday, the state Haj Committee is now gearing up to conduct an intensive campaign on maximising usage of the ‘Haj Suvidha’ mobile application among the pilgrims intending to head towards Mecca.
As more than 4.85 lakh pilgrims already performed the annual Amarnath Yatra during the last 35 days, a small batch of 991 Yatris left for the Valley on Saturday, officials said.
Over four lakh pilgrims have performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 24 days as another batch of 2,484 devotees left Jammu for Kashmir on Tuesday.
More than three lakh devotees performed the ongoing Amarnath Yatra during the last 16 days, as another batch of 4,875 Yatris left for the Valley on Monday, officials said.
The heavily guarded convoy set off on the journey to its sacred destination amid chants of Vedic Mantras from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here.
