The Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026 (SANJY-2026) kicked off on Friday as the initial group of pilgrims set out from Baltal and Nunwan base camps towards the sacred cave. Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore, accompanied by DIG Maqsood-ul-Zaman and other officials, flagged off the first batch from Baltal-Domail base camp in Ganderbal.
Security, medical assistance, RFID verification, and logistical arrangements have been meticulously organized along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes to ensure a secure and seamless pilgrimage experience. Pilgrims embarked on the journey to the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine with great enthusiasm.
Simultaneously, devotees from the Nunwan base camp also commenced their pilgrimage to the cave shrine, with senior officials overseeing the departure of the first batch. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has issued a crucial advisory emphasizing compliance with the daily limit on pilgrim numbers set by the Supreme Court for safety and smooth conduct of the Yatra.
To facilitate pilgrims, advance registration was made available through bank branches nationwide and online platforms before the Yatra’s commencement. As a result, the availability of Tatkal (on-the-spot) registration slots is very limited. Pilgrims are urged to complete their advance registration before traveling to Jammu and Kashmir, as accommodating unregistered pilgrims under the Tatkal facility is not feasible.
The advisory stresses that pilgrims must adhere to their registered travel dates and not arrive in Jammu and Kashmir before their allocated date. The administration emphasizes that every pilgrim will have the opportunity to undertake the Yatra in due course, following the prescribed procedures and available capacity. Cooperation with the authorities is requested to ensure the safety of all individuals participating in the pilgrimage.
