Amarnath Yatra Sees Strong Start as Pilgrim Count Crosses 56,000 in Three Days

The Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a strong start, with more than 56,900 pilgrims offering prayers at the naturally formed ice Shivling in the holy cave shrine during the first three days of the annual pilgrimage, reflecting robust turnout amid elaborate security and logistical arrangements.

Officials said 24,600 devotees paid obeisance at the 3,800-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas on Sunday alone. The day's pilgrims included 18,700 men and 5,000 women , taking the cumulative footfall since the pilgrimage began on July 3 to 56,900 .

The 57-day pilgrimage is being conducted simultaneously through the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Around 12,100 pilgrims visited the shrine on the opening day, followed by 20,000 devotees on Saturday, indicating a steady increase in daily turnout.

Authorities have put in place multi-layered security , extensive surveillance, traffic regulation, and medical support to ensure the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. Security personnel, disaster response teams, healthcare workers, and civil administration officials have been deployed along both routes, while weather conditions and pilgrim movement are being monitored round the clock.

The annual pilgrimage, one of Hinduism's most revered religious journeys , draws devotees from across India and abroad to the Himalayan cave shrine, where the naturally formed ice stalagmite is worshipped as a manifestation of Lord Shiva . The administration has also strengthened accommodation, sanitation, emergency response, and communication facilities to facilitate the large influx of pilgrims.

Officials said the pilgrimage has so far progressed peacefully, with thousands of devotees continuing to arrive at the twin base camps each day. The Amarnath Yatra 2026 is scheduled to conclude on August 28 , subject to weather and operational conditions.