Srinagar, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day due to security concerns, with the number of pilgrims who have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine crossing the 4.70 lakh mark since the annual pilgrimage began on July 3.
Officials said the pilgrimage restarted from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu after a one-day suspension imposed in view of security arrangements on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
A fresh batch of 1,801 pilgrims, the 28th batch of the ongoing Yatra, departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at around 2.45 am for the Baltal base camp in Kashmir amid tight security arrangements.
The officials said no convoy was sent towards the Pahalgam base camp as the pilgrimage was continuing through the Baltal route. The latest batch included 1,347 male pilgrims, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, travelling in 74 vehicles.
Since the commencement of the Yatra on July 3, more than 4.71 lakh devotees have had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of about 3,880 metres in the Kashmir Himalayas. Security forces continue to maintain a strong presence along the pilgrimage routes.
The Amarnath cave houses the naturally formed ice stalagmite, which devotees believe represents Lord Shiva. The formation is said to grow and shrink according to the phases of the moon.
Pilgrims following the traditional and longer Nunwan-Pahalgam route generally take around four days to reach the shrine. The Baltal route, located in Ganderbal district, is shorter, allowing devotees to complete the journey and return to the base camp on the same day after darshan.
Due to security concerns, authorities have designated areas beyond the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps as no-fly zones, resulting in the suspension of helicopter services for pilgrims this year.
The 57-day annual Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima, which also coincides with Raksha Bandhan.
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