At places like Wayil, Manigam, Mamar, Kangan and Gund along the 84-km road from summer capital Srinagar to Baltal, many makeshift tea-stalls, fruit stalls and cold drink stalls have been set up by the locals.

'Nearly 4,000 pilgrims have been using the Baltal route daily to reach the cave,' said a police officer.

While it takes four days of uphill trekking for the pilgrims to reach the cave shrine from the Pahalgam route, those using the Baltal route return to the base camp after offering prayers at the shrine within just one day.

This year's pilgrimage started June 5 via the north Kashmir route, while the Pahalgam route was cleared of snow and thrown open for pilgrims June 15.

Authorities of the SASB and local administration have made elaborate arrangements for weather forecasting, free kitchens for the pilgrims, tents and toilets at the base camps.

The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police have set up camps at various places along the pilgrimage routes to provide security and assistance to the pilgrims.