Over 3.6 lakh register for Amarnath Yatra:57-day pilgrimage begins on 3rd July; routes still buried under 12-feet snow

More than 3.6 lakh devotees have registered so far for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on July 3. Despite heavy snow accumulation along the pilgrimage routes, authorities say preparations are progressing rapidly and both tracks will be fully ready by June 15. The 57-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Sawan Purnima. Yatra to begin from 2 routes The pilgrimage will start simultaneously from the Baltal-Sonamarg route and the traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route. Registrations for the Yatra began on April 15. Officials expect the total number of pilgrims to cross 5 lakh this year. In 2025, around 4.14 lakh devotees undertook the pilgrimage, while the figure had crossed 5.10 lakh in 2024. Group registration closed Registration for groups consisting of 5 to 30 devotees closed on Wednesday. However, individual registrations and bookings for smaller groups will continue until available slots are filled. Pilgrims can register through designated branches of Punjab National Bank, Jammu Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, and Yes Bank. 10–12 feet snow still present on tracks Heavy snow continues to cover several stretches of the pilgrimage routes. Authorities said snow accumulation ranges from 6 to 8 feet in normal areas and up to 10 to 12 feet in avalanche-prone zones. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already cleared snow from nearly 9 km of the Baltal route and 8 km of the Nunwan-Pahalgam route. Track widening, surface improvement, and construction of retaining walls and culverts are also underway to ensure smoother movement of pilgrims. Pre-fabricated shelters to replace tents This year, devotees will be accommodated in pre-fabricated and fiber structures instead of traditional tents at the base camps. Officials said the new facilities are designed to provide better protection against sudden temperature drops and rainfall. Each building will have 48 rooms equipped with attached washrooms, along with hot and cold water facilities. Pantries are also being constructed inside every structure. The project, which began three years ago, is now nearing completion. No camps in disaster-prone areas Authorities have declared all sensitive and disaster-prone zones along the Yatra route as “no-entry zones” for pilgrims this year. Following incidents of cloudbursts and flash floods in recent years, camps will not be set up in vulnerable areas. Officials added that both the Baltal and Nunwan tracks have been widened and bridges along the routes have also been strengthened to improve safety arrangements.