1.45 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Amarnath Cave So Far, Sacred Journey Reaches Its Peak

Srinagar (The Uttam Hindu): The sacred Amarnath Yatra 2025 is witnessing a massive spiritual wave across India, with over 1.45 lakh pilgrims having paid homage at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in just the first eight days of the journey.

On Friday, a fresh batch of 6,482 pilgrims departed from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two security convoys, heading towards the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. Officials confirmed that 2,353 pilgrims left in 107 vehicles for Baltal at 3:20 AM, while 4,129 pilgrims in 161 vehicles left at 4:04 AM for Nunwan (Pahalgam).

Adding to the spiritual fervor, the symbolic ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (holy mace of Lord Shiva) was also taken to Pahalgam under the leadership of Mahant Swami Dipendra Giri, the lone custodian. Rituals were held at the Gauri Shankar Temple and the sacred Martand Sun Temple, where the mace was ritually bathed in holy spring water.

The mace will reach the Amarnath cave temple on August 9, the final day of the yatra, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

In view of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives, the government has enforced robust multi-tiered security, deploying an additional 180 companies of paramilitary forces. The entire pilgrimage route and transit camps are under tight surveillance by the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police.

Pilgrims reach the 3,888-meter-high cave through two main routes:

The Pahalgam route, covering 46 km over 4 days via Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. The Baltal route, a shorter 14-km trek allowing a same-day return. Helicopter services are not available this year due to security reasons. Despite this, thousands are trekking the Himalayan paths to witness the naturally formed ice Shivling, which is believed to wax and wane with the moon.

According to Hindu mythology, this is the sacred cave where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to Goddess Parvati, making Amarnath Yatra one of the holiest pilgrimages for devotees. The yatra, which began on July 3, will conclude on August 9, lasting a total of 38 days.