Jammu, July 22, 2025: Despite heavy rainfall, a fresh batch of 3,536 pilgrims embarked on the sacred Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu, heading toward the revered Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The pilgrimage, which began on July 3, 2025, continues to draw devotees to the 3,880-metre-high shrine of Lord Shiva, known for its naturally formed ice lingam.
The 20th batch, comprising 2,601 men, 822 women, 11 children, and 102 sadhus and sadhvis, left the base camp between 3:33 AM and 4:09 AM in 132 vehicles, escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel. Of these, 1,250 pilgrims in 48 vehicles opted for the shorter, steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, while 2,286 pilgrims in 84 vehicles chose the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district.
Since the yatra’s commencement, flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on July 2, a total of 1,27,541 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp. However, officials noted a decline in pilgrim numbers in recent days, with 7,908 in the 16th batch (July 18), 6,365 in the 17th batch (July 19), 4,388 in the 18th batch (July 20), and 3,791 in the 19th batch (July 21). Tuesday’s batch marked the smallest so far, prompting authorities to close on-the-spot registration due to reduced footfall. Registration is now centralized at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp.
Over 3 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave since the pilgrimage began, and more than 4 lakh have registered online, though last year’s figure of 5.10 lakh pilgrims has not yet been surpassed. The 38-day yatra, set to conclude on August 9, 2025, operates under heightened security following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. The Bhagwati Nagar base camp is under a multi-tier security cover, and pilgrims are issued Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for safety.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, manages the pilgrimage, ensuring facilities like accommodation and RFID issuance. Pilgrims are advised to carry Aadhaar cards, wear RFID tags, and bring waterproof gear and warm clothing due to unpredictable weathe
