The Jammu and Kashmir administration is busy making preparations for the Amarnath pilgrimage with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Governor S.K. Sinha reaching a compromise on the duration of the trek.

The pilgrimage from Baltal, less steeper and shorter than the traditional route via Pahalgam to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, will begin June 21, the date suggested by the governor. The Pahalgam pilgrimage will start July 11.

The chief minister and the governor were at odds over the number of days. While Sinha had said last month that the duration would not be reduced from two months to one month, Sayeed was keen that it should not exceed a month. Finally, the pilgrimage from the Pahalgam route will be only for 40 days.

This comes as a relief for the state administration as it is difficult to secure the traditional route leading to the 13,500 ft shrine.

However, security is already in place for the Baltal route, which is on Srinagar-Leh road. Troops and defence supplies are routed through the road to Kargil, Siachen and Leh and the army secures that area well.

The governor said he was "happy" that things had worked out. "Our basic interest is that pilgrims should be able to visit the shrine for a maximum period of time," he told reporters.

It is still not certain whether pilgrims would start from Srinagar or Jammu. "Those modalities are being worked out," said an official of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, headed by the governor.