J&K Traffic Dept issues SANJY-2026 Yatra convoy timing schedule
Synopsis
The J&K Traffic Department has laid out a minute-by-minute convoy schedule for SANJY-2026, with pilgrims barred from moving in the Kashmir Valley before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The tightly controlled windows — some as early as 4 a.m. departures from Jammu — reflect the security-first logistics that govern one of India's largest annual pilgrimages.
Key Takeaways
J&K Traffic Department issued the SANJY-2026 convoy timing schedule on 24 June 2025 .
Baltal-bound convoys must leave Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas by 4 a.m. and clear Banihal by 10 a.m.
Pahalgam-bound convoys must depart Jammu by 4.15 a.m. and clear Banihal by 10.45 a.m.
All Yatri and tourist movement in the Kashmir Valley is restricted to 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
Non-convoy vehicles must cross the Navyug tunnel by 3 p.m. and leave Manigam for Baltal by 5 p.m.
The advisory applies only to pilgrims and tourists; other vehicles follow separate daily traffic orders.
The Jammu & Kashmir Traffic Department on Wednesday, 24 June 2025, issued a detailed convoy timing schedule for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY-2026), setting strict departure windows for Yatri convoys from Jammu to both the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. The advisory aims to ensure smooth, secure movement of pilgrims across the high-altitude route in Jammu & Kashmir.
Convoy Timings for the Baltal Route
Yatri convoys heading toward the Baltal base camp via north Kashmir must depart from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu before or by 4 a.m. each day. Escorted convoys must clear Banihal for Baltal no later than 10 a.m.
From the Manigam transit camp in Ganderbal district, onward movement toward Baltal is permitted only up to 5 p.m. Return convoys from the Baltal base camp must depart by 6 a.m., and the same convoy must leave Banihal for Jammu by or before 11.30 a.m.
Convoy Timings for the Pahalgam Route
Yatri convoys bound for the Pahalgam base camp must leave Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas before or by 4.15 a.m. and must clear Banihal for Pahalgam no later than 10.45 a.m.
Return convoys from Pahalgam must depart before or by 6 a.m., and from the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam, departure must be by 6.30 a.m. at the latest. These convoys must leave Banihal for Jammu before or by 8 a.m.
Rules for Non-Convoy Yatris and Tourists
For Yatris and tourists not travelling in escorted convoys, the last vehicle must cross the Navyug tunnel by 3 p.m. and leave the Manigam transit camp for Baltal before or by 5 p.m. Non-convoy vehicles must leave Sonamarg for Ganderbal before or by 10 a.m. and exit Manigam transit camp for Srinagar before or by 12 noon.
No Yatri or tourist vehicle will be permitted from Pahalgam toward Jammu or Srinagar-Anantnag after 3.30 p.m. Vehicles from Sonamarg toward Srinagar must move before 4 p.m., while the Gulmarg-Srinagar corridor closes in both directions after 5 p.m.
Valley-Wide Movement Curfew for Pilgrims
The advisory states that Yatris and tourists must restrict travel within the Kashmir Valley to the window of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. After security forces and road opening parties (ROPs) withdraw at 6 p.m., no pilgrim or tourist vehicle will be permitted to move further. Authorities have directed concerned police, traffic personnel, and security forces to escort any stranded vehicles to the nearest Yatri or security forces camp.
The department clarified that this advisory applies exclusively to Yatris, Yatra convoys, and tourists. Separate daily traffic advisories issued by Traffic Police govern movement of other heavy and light motor vehicles and security force convoys. With SANJY-2026 drawing thousands of pilgrims from across the country, adherence to these timings will be closely monitored by security and traffic authorities throughout the Yatra season.
Point of View
In practice, a security cordon in motion: every convoy window is calibrated around road-opening party withdrawals and ROP cover. The 6 p.m. hard cutoff is not a traffic convenience; it is a security imperative. Mainstream coverage tends to treat these advisories as routine logistics, but the operational architecture they reveal — coordinated between Traffic Police, security forces, and transit camps across two distinct mountain routes — is one of India's most complex annual security deployments. The real question each year is not whether the schedule is issued, but whether adherence on the ground keeps pace with the volume of pilgrims.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the convoy departure times for the Baltal route during SANJY-2026?
Yatri convoys for the Baltal base camp must leave Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu by 4 a.m. and clear Banihal by 10 a.m. Return convoys from Baltal must depart by 6 a.m. and leave Banihal for Jammu by 11.30 a.m.
What are the timings for the Pahalgam route?
Convoys for the Pahalgam base camp must leave Jammu by 4.15 a.m. and clear Banihal by 10.45 a.m. Return convoys from Pahalgam must depart by 6 a.m., from Nunwan base camp by 6.30 a.m., and from Banihal by 8 a.m.
What rules apply to Yatris not travelling in escorted convoys?
Non-convoy Yatri and tourist vehicles must cross the Navyug tunnel by 3 p.m. and leave Manigam transit camp for Baltal by 5 p.m. Vehicles from Sonamarg must leave for Ganderbal by 10 a.m. and exit Manigam for Srinagar by 12 noon.
What is the overall movement window for pilgrims in the Kashmir Valley?
All Yatris and tourists are advised to travel within the Kashmir Valley only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. After security forces and road opening parties withdraw at 6 p.m., no pilgrim or tourist vehicle is permitted to move, and stranded vehicles will be escorted to the nearest camp.
