Amarnath Yatra 2026 Begins Today Amid Unprecedented Security Arrangements

July 3, 2026

New Delhi: The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 commenced on Friday, with thousands of devotees beginning the 57-day pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Jammu and Kashmir. The yatra will continue until August 28, giving pilgrims nearly two months to undertake the sacred journey.

The first batch of 4,822 pilgrims reached the twin base camps at Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan (Pahalgam) in Anantnag district on Thursday after departing from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu under security-escorted convoys. Of these, 2,510 pilgrims arrived at the Nunwan base camp, while 2,312 devotees reached Baltal safely.

Tight Security and Extensive Arrangements

Authorities have put in place unprecedented security measures for this year’s pilgrimage. Multiple agencies, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Army, civil administration and the Health Department, are working together to ensure the safety and smooth movement of devotees.

Dedicated assistance booths, Helping Hand teams, traffic management systems and round-the-clock police deployment have also been established along the pilgrimage routes to provide emergency support and guidance.

Officials Welcome Pilgrims

Pilgrims arriving at the Baltal base camp were welcomed by Jammu and Kashmir Minister Satish Sharma along with senior police and district officials. They assured devotees that comprehensive security and public facilitation measures have been implemented and urged them to follow official advisories throughout the pilgrimage.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, local residents, volunteers and service providers have also joined hands to ensure a safe, seamless and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience for all devotees.