Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Jammu and Kashmir administration has officially announced the dates for the annual Amarnath Yatra 2026, with the pilgrimage set to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed on Sunday that the 57-day yatra will begin with the first batch of pilgrims departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. The traditional “Pratham Pujan,” marking the spiritual beginning of the journey, is scheduled for June 19 to coincide with Jyeshtha Purnima.
Prospective pilgrims between the ages of 13 and 70 are eligible to undertake the trek via either the 48-km traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag or the swifter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. Registration for the pilgrimage is slated to open on April 15 across 556 designated bank branches nationwide, including major institutions such as Punjab National Bank, SBI, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and Axis Bank. For digital convenience, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will also facilitate online registrations through its official website and mobile application.
Significant upgrades in facilities and security have been implemented for the 2026 season, with a 25% increase in overall arrangements. To ensure real-time tracking and safety, the use of RFID cards has been made mandatory for every trekker. In a substantial boost to pilgrim welfare, the group accidental insurance cover has been doubled from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Additionally, the administration has introduced a compensation of ₹50,000 for pony owners in the event of an animal’s death during the challenging trek, supporting the local service providers essential to the yatra.
