Record 1.3 Lakh Pilgrims Begin Amarnath Yatra Under Tight Security in Kashmir
The annual 57-day Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3, 2026, in Jammu and Kashmir, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performing the Pratham Puja on June 29. Over 1.3 lakh pilgrims visited the 3,880-meter cave shrine in the first five days, a record surge after last year’s Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 civilians. Security has been enhanced with AI and drones. Pilgrims travel via the 48-km Pahalgam or 14-km Baltal routes, with convoys departing daily from Jammu under tight security.
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Amarnath Yatra: A Sacred Himalayan Pilgrimage of Faith and Fellowship
The article describes the centuries-old Amarnath Yatra, a physically demanding Hindu pilgrimage through the Himalayas to a cave shrine at 13,000 feet in Kashmir. This year's 57-day journey began on July 3 and ends August 28, with pilgrims using either the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route or the 14-km Baltal route. The pilgrimage relies heavily on local Muslim residents who provide essential services like pony rides, palanquin carrying, tent operations, and hospitality such as tea and walking sticks. The article highlights the tradition of Kashmiriyat—the region's syncretic culture and interfaith harmony—as a counterpoint to global polarization. In 2025, following a Pahalgam attack, about 410,000 pilgrims visited, a decline from the previous year, with weather forcing an early conclusion. The piece emphasizes the shared humanity and compassion demonstrated by ordinary Kashmiris toward the pilgrims.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Record 1.3 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Amarnath Shrine in First Five Days of Annual Yatra
The annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir has set a record with over 1.3 lakh pilgrims visiting the cave shrine at 3,888 meters altitude in the first five days of the 57-day pilgrimage. On Tuesday alone, more than 20,000 devotees paid obeisance. This surge follows a significant drop in 2025 when only 3.5 lakh pilgrims visited due to a militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, compared to 5.12 lakh in 2024. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also chairs the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, emphasized making the pilgrimage memorable with top amenities, safety, and security. He urged stakeholders to coordinate closely to set a benchmark for spiritual tourism, and encouraged devotees to support local economy, culture, and heritage. Sinha directed officials to ensure proper registration and assistance for pilgrims.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Iltija Mufti flags shrinking Amarnath lingam, raises concerns over environmental impact
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti raised concerns over the shrinking naturally formed ice lingam at the Amarnath cave shrine, alleging that the annual pilgrimage is exceeding the Supreme Court-prescribed limit of 10,000 pilgrims per day. Official figures show over 1.13 lakh pilgrims visited in the first five days, averaging 22,000 per day. Mufti attributed the melting to climate change, deforestation, illegal mining, waste mismanagement, and water depletion. She criticized the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for unnecessary construction, massive footfall, and an ambitious ropeway project that could harm the fragile glacial environment. She called for a long-term sustainable environmental and tourism policy, similar to Bhutan's, warning that without it, Kashmir's mountains, rivers, and glaciers may not survive. The 57-day Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude on August 28.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Record 1.3 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Amarnath Shrine in First Five Days
The annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir has seen a record 1.3 lakh pilgrims visit the cave shrine in the first five days of the 57-day pilgrimage, according to officials. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also chairs the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, stated that safety, security, and hassle-free darshan remain top priorities. The surge in numbers comes after a militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam last year killed 26 civilians, which had reduced the 2025 turnout to 3.5 lakh pilgrims from 5.12 lakh in 2024. Sinha urged stakeholders to work together to make the yatra historic and a benchmark for spiritual tourism, while also promoting local economy and culture. Over 20,000 pilgrims paid obeisance on Tuesday alone.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Another batch of pilgrims leaves Jammu for the Amarnath shrine
On July 6, 2026, a fresh batch of 5,794 pilgrims, including 1,211 women, 21 children, 599 Sadhus, and 76 Sadhvis, departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the annual Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrims left in separate convoys under tight security between 3:10 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. Of these, 3,490 pilgrims headed to the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam via the traditional 48-km route, while 2,304 pilgrims traveled to the Baltal base camp via the shorter 14-km route. Officials reported that around 60,000 pilgrims have offered prayers at the holy cave shrine since the yatra began on July 3. The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter high cave shrine in the south Himalayas is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Fresh batch of over 6,700 pilgrims departs for Amarnath shrine under tight security
On July 5, 2026, a fresh batch of over 6,700 pilgrims left the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, marking the fourth such departure since the yatra began. The convoys departed in two groups at 3 a.m. and 3:40 a.m., carrying pilgrims to the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps respectively. The batch includes 1,310 women and 22 children. With this, a total of 20,220 pilgrims have left Jammu so far. Over 26,000 pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the first two days. Due to unprecedented influx, authorities announced that only registered pilgrims would be allowed to proceed, urging unregistered devotees to postpone travel until new registration slots open. The 57-day yatra proceeds via the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.First batch of Amarnath pilgrims flagged off from Jammu
On July 2, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of over 4,800 pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp. The pilgrims departed in a convoy of 259 vehicles toward the twin base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Sonmarg, ahead of the formal trek to the Amarnath Cave Shrine at 3,880 meters. Security has been significantly enhanced along the yatra routes using artificial intelligence and drones, in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians and reduced pilgrim numbers last year. The Baltal route is a steep 14-km trek, while the Pahalgam route is 34 km. Local political leader Altaf Bukhari highlighted the pilgrimage as a symbol of Jammu and Kashmir's inclusive culture and the role of the Muslim community in ensuring its safe conduct.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Jammu and Kashmir LG performs Pratham Puja to mark ceremonial start of Amarnath Yatra
On June 29, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed the 'Pratham Puja' at the Amarnath cave shrine to ceremonially commence the annual Amarnath Yatra. The 57-day pilgrimage will formally begin on July 3 via the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, culminating on August 28 (Raksha Bandhan). Sinha urged devotees of Baba Barfani to participate in large numbers, emphasizing the spiritual journey. He stated that the administration, Amarnath Shrine Board, Army, police, security forces, local communities, and volunteers are working together to ensure a safe and memorable pilgrimage with upgraded infrastructure. The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) holds the Pratham Puja annually on Jyeshtha Purnima. Senior officials including DGP Nalin Prabhat, Special DG Gillani, SASB CEO Mandeep Bhandari, and Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg accompanied Sinha.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.