Amarnath, Vaishno Devi yatras resume after 6-day halt; 22,000 pilgrims get darshan
Synopsis
After six days of weather-forced closure, two of India's most sacred pilgrimages restarted on 26 July — but not without caveats. The Pahalgam route to Amarnath remains shut for repairs, Shiv Khori is still suspended, and evening rains halted Vaishno Devi darshan again. With four lakh already at the cave and the Yatra running until 28 August, authorities are in a race against the monsoon.
Key Takeaways
Amarnath Yatra and Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage resumed on 26 July after a six-day weather-induced suspension.
More than 18,000 pilgrims offered prayers at Vaishno Devi shrine, Katra ; over 4,000 had darshan at the Amarnath holy cave .
The Pahalgam axis remains temporarily closed for repair and maintenance; all Amarnath convoys are routed via Baltal .
Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district stayed suspended for a seventh consecutive day .
Nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the Amarnath cave since the 57-day Yatra began on 3 July .
The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on 28 August , coinciding with Raksha Bandhan .
The Amarnath Yatra and the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir resumed on Saturday, 26 July after a six-day weather-induced suspension, with more than 18,000 devotees offering prayers at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra and over 4,000 pilgrims getting darshan at the Amarnath holy cave in South Kashmir's Anantnag district. Both pilgrimages had been halted on 19 July following an adverse weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Key Developments
The Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district, however, remained suspended for a seventh consecutive day, officials confirmed. At Vaishno Devi, the 18,000 pilgrims who had been stranded and accommodated in hotels and dharmshalas performed darshan through the old track by Saturday evening. The new track was kept shut as a precautionary measure due to the threat of shooting stones. Yatra was again suspended in the evening owing to heavy rains.
Amarnath Yatra Route Update
The Amarnath Yatra resumed after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored following landslides and shooting stones along the Udhampur-Ramban stretch. On Saturday, a convoy of 223 vehicles carrying 6,269 devotees departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at around 2.40 am for the Baltal base camp. No convoy moved via the Pahalgam route, which has been temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work caused by recent rainfall.
What Officials Said
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg confirmed that the Pahalgam axis would remain temporarily closed to allow urgent repair and restoration. “To ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the Yatra, comprehensive arrangements have been made on the Baltal axis for the safe and smooth movement of pilgrims,” he said. Officials noted that weather remained dry at the cave shrine in the morning but drizzle set in during the afternoon, with the Yatra proceeding smoothly through the day.
Pilgrimage Progress So Far
Since the 57-day Amarnath Yatra commenced on 3 July, nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave, according to officials. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on 28 August, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. This comes amid one of the more weather-disrupted editions of the Yatra in recent years, with heavy rains triggering landslides across hilly areas of Kashmir and causing river and stream levels to surge, forcing authorities to prioritise pilgrim safety over continuity.
Point of View
But it concentrates pilgrim traffic on a single Baltal corridor, raising crowd-management concerns. With the Yatra running until 28 August and the monsoon far from over, authorities face a recurring dilemma: balancing religious access against safety. A longer-term investment in all-weather trail infrastructure and real-time weather-linked protocols is overdue.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the Amarnath and Vaishno Devi yatras suspended?
Both pilgrimages were suspended on 19 July after the India Meteorological Department forecast inclement weather across Jammu and Kashmir from 19 to 24 July. Heavy rains triggered landslides, raised river levels, and caused shooting stones along key routes, prompting authorities to halt the Yatras as a safety measure.
When did the Amarnath and Vaishno Devi yatras resume?
Both yatras resumed on Saturday, 26 July, after a six-day suspension. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored following clearance of landslide debris along the Udhampur-Ramban stretch, enabling the Amarnath convoy to move again.
Is the Pahalgam route to Amarnath open?
No. The Pahalgam axis remains temporarily closed for repair and maintenance work made necessary by recent rainfall. All Amarnath Yatra convoys are currently being routed through the Baltal axis, as confirmed by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg.
How many pilgrims have visited Amarnath so far this season?
Nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the Amarnath holy cave since the 57-day Yatra began on 3 July. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on 28 August, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
What is the status of the Shiv Khori shrine pilgrimage?
The Shiv Khori shrine pilgrimage in Reasi district remained suspended for a seventh consecutive day on 26 July, even as the Amarnath and Vaishno Devi yatras resumed. Officials have not yet announced a reopening date for Shiv Khori.
