Chandigarh: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has officially announced the schedule for the annual Amarnath Yatra 2026. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed on Sunday that the pilgrimage will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28, spanning a total of 57 days. The first batch of pilgrims will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu, while the traditional “Pratham Pujan” is scheduled to take place on June 19, coinciding with Jyeshtha Purnima.
Prospective pilgrims aged between 13 and 70 years are eligible to participate in the journey via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag or the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. Registration for the yatra is set to open on April 15 across 556 designated bank branches nationwide, including Punjab National Bank, SBI, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and Axis Bank. Additionally, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will facilitate online registrations through its official website and mobile application.
The administration has significantly upgraded facilities and security measures for the 2026 season. LG Sinha noted a 25% increase in overall arrangements, including the mandatory use of RFID cards to track and ensure the safety of every trekker. In a major move for pilgrim welfare, the group accidental insurance cover has been doubled from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Furthermore, the administration has introduced a compensation of ₹50,000 for pony owners in the event of the death of their animals during the arduous trek.
