The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday (July 3, 2025) with the first batches of pilgrims setting off from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan towards the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, which houses a naturally formed ice-lingam, officials said.
The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal at the first light of the day, the officials said.
The chants of ‘bum bum bole’ filled the air as the batches were flagged off by senior officials from the respective base camps, they added.
The unprecedented security cover this year comes in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead in the Baisaran meadow, which falls near the traditional Nunwan-Chandanwari yatra route in Anantnag district. The distance between Nunwan base camp and Baisaran, the attack site, is just around 5 km.
The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9.
(Text from The Hindu Bureau, PTI)
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The first batch of the Amarnath pilgrims on their way to Amarnath cave at Railpathri near Baltal, on July 3, 2025.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The annual Amarnath Yatra that began on Thursday (July 3, 2025) started early morning from the twin tracks— the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
A Sadhu smokes as he arrive at the base camp, for the annual Amarnath yatra pilgrimage, in Baltal, some 125 kilometers northeast of Srinagar.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Porters carry luggage on their shoulders for Amarnath pilgrims on their way to Amarnath cave at Railpathri near Baltal, on July 3, 2025.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal on the first day of the annual Amarnath Yatra on Thursday (July 3, 2025).
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The unprecedented security cover this year comes in the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead in the Baisaran meadow, which falls near the traditional Nunwan-Chandanwari yatra route in Anantnag district. The yatra began on Thursday (July 3, 2025).
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The first batch of pilgrims leaves from a base camp at Baltal for the annual ‘Amarnath Yatra’, in Ganderbal district, on July 3, 2025.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
An Amarnath pilgrim is carried on a palanquin by porters on their way to Amarnath cave at Railpathri near Baltal, on July 3, 2025.
Photo:
Imran Nissar
Photo:
Imran Nissar
The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday, July 3, 2025. More than 3.31 lakh devotees have registered so far for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, officials said.
Published – July 03, 2025 11:28 am IST
