Over 3.42 Lakh Pilgrims Have ‘Darshan’ in 21 Days; Amarnath Yatra Expected to Cross 3.5 Lakh Mark Today

Srinagar – More than 3.42 lakh devotees have had ‘Darshan’ at the Amarnath cave shrine since the Yatra began on July 3, and the number is set to surpass the officially projected 3.5 lakh pilgrims on Thursday, with 17 days still remaining until the Yatra concludes.

Officials said that despite the passage of 21 days, the influx of pilgrims continues unabated, reflecting the smooth and peaceful conduct of the annual pilgrimage.

“We’re expecting the Yatra to officially cross the 3.5 lakh mark today,” an official said, adding that a fresh batch of 3,500 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the two base camps on Thursday morning.

The first convoy of 45 vehicles carrying 832 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp at 3:25 a.m., followed by a second convoy of 95 vehicles with 2,668 pilgrims heading to the Pahalgam base camp at 4:01 a.m., according to officials.

The Bhumi Pujan of the 'Chhari Mubarak', the holy mace of Lord Shiva, was performed in Pahalgam on July 10, after which it was returned to the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar. The final journey of the Chhari Mubarak will begin on August 4 and reach the cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the 2025 Yatra.

This year's pilgrimage is being held under tight multi-tier security, especially after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

To ensure safety, authorities have deployed 180 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) alongside the existing deployment of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and J&K Police. The Indian Army alone has stationed over 8,000 special commandos for securing pilgrim routes.

The Amarnath Yatra 2025 spans 38 days, ending on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Pilgrims reach the cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the Kashmir Himalayas, via two routes:

• The traditional Pahalgam route: A 46-km trek through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, usually completed in four days.

• The shorter Baltal route: A 14-km trek that allows devotees to reach the cave and return the same day.

Helicopter services are unavailable this year due to security concerns.

The shrine is famed for housing a naturally formed ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent the mythical powers of Lord Shiva, which waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon.

With inputs from IANS