Amarnath Yatra Sets New Record as Over 3 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Holy Cave in Just 12 Days
The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has achieved a historic milestone, with more than three lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the holy cave shrine in just 12 days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, marking the fastest-ever rise in pilgrim numbers for the annual yatra. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), described the achievement as a historic record in a post on X. He praised officials, security personnel, service providers and volunteers for ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the pilgrimage.
“Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has set a historic new record, crossing the 3 lakh mark in just 12 days. I commend all the officials, service providers and volunteers. Their dedication and hard work have made this holy pilgrimage smooth and memorable for every devotee of Baba Barfani. Har Har Mahadev!” Sinha said.
The 52-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir commenced from the twin base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Ganderbal. Official figures indicate that while the yatra had crossed 2.5 lakh pilgrims by Sunday, the number exceeded three lakh by Tuesday, significantly faster than previous years, when the same milestone was reached only after about three weeks.
To accommodate the growing number of devotees, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir administration have expanded facilities this year. Arrangements include additional langars (community kitchens), upgraded medical centres, improved transit camps, sanitation services and strengthened communication facilities along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Security has also been significantly enhanced with a multi-layer deployment of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the trekking routes to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
The Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 19, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Authorities expect the number of pilgrims to continue rising in the coming weeks as favourable weather and improved infrastructure encourage more devotees to undertake the annual pilgrimage.
I can also monitor the Amarnath Yatra and keep you updated on pilgrim numbers, weather conditions, traffic advisories and any major developments throughout the pilgrimage.
