57-day holy pilgrimage to commence on July 3
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday announced that Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will commence this year on 3 July and conclude on Raksha Bandhan, 28 August 2026, spanning a total of 57 days. He said the Pratham Puja, to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, will be held on Jyeshtha Purnima, 29 June 2026.
Addressing a press conference in Lok Bhavan in Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said advance registration for the Yatra will begin on 15 April 2026 via both offline and online modes.
“The registration facility will be available at 554 branches of J&K Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, and Yes Bank across the country,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor also said Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) will be issued to every registered pilgrim and service provider. “Registered pilgrims will receive group accident insurance with the sum assured enhanced to Rs. 10 lakh per person. Coverage for both accidental and natural deaths of ponies-Rs. 50,000 per animal, will be provided through the National Livestock Mission”, he added.
“Grid power supply will be available along the Baltal Axis up to the Holy Cave and from the Holy Cave to Panjtarni. Yatra tracks will be adequately illuminated. Various e-services and a pre-paid system for hiring ponies, pithoos, palkis etc will be available to pilgrims for ease of Yatra. Yatri Niwas facilities will be available at Baltal, Pantha Chowk (Srinagar), Nunwan, and Chanderkote,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Highlighting infrastructure upgrades, Sinha said that both pilgrimage routes have been widened significantly to ensure smoother movement of pilgrims.
“The Baltal and Nunwan routes have been expanded up to around 12 ft at several places and vulnerable stretches and bridges have been improved considerably by the BRO, which has done commendable maintenance work over the years,” he said.
On capacity enhancement, the LG said arrangements have been made to accommodate more pilgrims even during adverse weather conditions.
“Holding capacity has been increased and several shelters have been set up so that a large number of people can stay comfortably during bad weather,” he said.
LG said that Yatri Niwas facilities have been expanded at Chandanwari, Baltal and Srinagar in Kashmir. While the Nunwan facility will become operational this year, the Jammu facility is also expected to open soon.
Sinha said strict measures have been implemented at vulnerable locations along the route. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place for the yatra.
“Jammu and Kashmir Police, NDRF, SDRF and CRPF are deployed in large numbers, while the Army takes positions at higher reaches in advance to ensure security,” he said.
“With the installation of Doppler radar, real-time weather prediction has become much more precise as compared to earlier,” he said.
Sinha said a 100-bed hospital has been established in Baltal and another in Chandanwari to provide good medical support to pilgrims.
To ensure seamless communication connectivity, he said, all major service providers, including BSNL, Reliance and Airtel, have been engaged to maintain connectivity, even during heavy rains when pilgrims may get stranded.
Sinha said the yatra is being conducted smoothly due to coordinated efforts of multiple stakeholders.
The administration has put in place systems to assess pilgrim satisfaction, he said.
-Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will commence on 3 July and conclude on Raksha Bandhan, 28 August
-Pratham Puja, to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, will be held on Jyeshtha Purnima, 29 June
-Advance registration for the Yatra will begin on 15 April via both offline and online modes
-All arrangements have been made to ensure hassle-free Darshan at the Holy Cave: LG
-Registration facility will be available at 554 branches of J&K Bank, PNB, SBI, and Yes Bank
-RFID will be issued to every registered pilgrim and service provider
-Registered pilgrims will receive group accident insurance with sum assured enhanced to Rs. 10L
– Coverage for both accidental and natural deaths of ponies-Rs. 50,000 per animal
