Amarnath Yatra Tops 4 Lakh Pilgrims; J&K Lt Governor Calls It a ‘Miracle’

The current Amarnath Yatra 2025 has officially breached the four-lakh devotee milestone, a major milestone during the annual pilgrimage.

The news was announced on Thursday following the permission given to Yatris to move from the Baltal base camp to the holy cave shrine.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SAAB), posted the update on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

"Baba Amarnath makes the impossible, possible. Because of his blessings, the Holy Yatra today crossed the count of 4 Lakh. I pay obeisance to Lord Shiva for this miracle and thank all who have toiled to make the holy pilgrimage a divine experience to devotees," he tweeted.

The Lt Governor not only referred to the Yatra as a physically strenuous pilgrimage but as a deep spiritual journey. "It's a spiritual experience & gives an opportunity to devotees to know themselves & offers deep trust & fills their hearts with infinite gratitude," he further added.

Terming it an "unparalleled" experience, Sinha pointed out how the pilgrimage embodies the country's cultural and religious oneness, particularly since pilgrims are arriving from all parts of the country and even outside. "I am indeed grateful to the devotees, who have demonstrated boundless faith and enriched our invaluable spiritual heritage," he observed.

Earlier on the day, the Yatra from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu had been suspended briefly because of maintenance on the Pahalgam path. Nonetheless, in the afternoon, Yatris were allowed to proceed with their journey from Baltal base camp within Ganderbal district.

The Yatra this year has witnessed a craze in turnout despite increased security threats, especially following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians, including 25 foreign tourists and a local resident, were killed in an attack staged by three Pakistan-sponsored Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants.

The three attackers—Suleman Shah, Abu Hamza, and Jibran Bhai—were eliminated on July 28 by Indian troops in the upper altitudes of Srinagar's Dachigam National Park during Operation Mahadev.

The Amarnath Yatra may be done through two routes: the longer traditional route from Pahalgam, which typically takes four days, and the shorter Baltal route, which permits a return journey in the same day after the darshan.

Situated 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, the Amarnath cave temple contains a naturally formed ice stalagmite believed to symbolize Lord Shiva. The people believe that the structure's waxing and waning with the cycle of the moon represents divine power.

This year's Yatra commenced on July 3 and will last until August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. The fact that more than four lakh pilgrims have already arrived here is being viewed as a victory for the power of unshakeable faith over the specter of terror.