Amarnath Yatra 2026: First Batch Of Pilgrims Arrives At Jammu Base Camp; Lt Governor Manoj Sinha Flags Off The Convoy
· Free Press Journal

Amarnath Yatra 2026 officially commenced with the arrival of the first batch of pilgrims at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu on Wednesday. The devotees, filled with enthusiasm and devotion, were welcomed amid elaborate security arrangements ahead of their journey to the sacred Amarnath Cave Shrine in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir: Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, Anantnag Police have put in place stringent security arrangements. At the Khanabal-Pahalgam road, vehicles are being thoroughly inspected and the identity cards of every traveler are being verified. These enhanced checks… pic.twitter.com/u8FDFSSWTM
— IANS (@ians_india) July 1, 2026
Pilgrims arrive at Jammu base camp
The cave shrine which is dedicated to Lord Shiva is set to begin for 2026 from July 3. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday morning flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu city for their onward journey to the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir, after the first batch of Amarnath Yatra 2026 arrived at the base camp.
All arrangements are in place for the annual #AmarnathYatra, with enhanced security and accommodation for nearly 55,000 pilgrims. The first batch to leave Bhagwati Nagar on 2 July as Lt Governor @manojsinha_ to flag off the convoy at 4 AM. The 57-day Yatra to begin on 3 July. pic.twitter.com/rPIVVKxvKc
— Akashvani News Jammu (@radionews_jammu) July 1, 2026
Arrangements and registrations
Pilgrims arrived at the Yatri Transit Camp in Srinagar ahead of the first batch of the annual Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday, even as on-the-spot registration and RFID card issuance commenced in Jammu, with authorities confirming that all preparations for the pilgrimage’s first batch have been completed. Meanwhile, token distribution for the annual Amarnath Yatra began on Tuesday at the Tawi River Front in Jammu city.
#WATCH | Jammu: The Amarnath Yatra is set to begin on July 3rd, as a large number of devotees gather at the Jammu base camp. pic.twitter.com/sa1zuJ57yW
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2026
Flag-off ceremony details
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), will flag off the first convoy on Wednesday, July 1, at 4 AM. The 57-day pilgrimage will begin on July 3 via the traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Comprehensive arrangements have been made for accommodation, food, sanitation, healthcare, transport and security to ensure a smooth pilgrimage.
Nashik, Maharashtra: The traditional palkhi of Sant Nivruttinath Maharaj entered Nashik city on its way from Trimbakeshwar to Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi. District Collector Ayush Prasad welcomed the palkhi and paid tributes to the Warkari tradition pic.twitter.com/6g2nHXVdGh
— IANS (@ians_india) July 1, 2026
About Amarnath Yatra 2026
The annual Amarnath Yatra attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year from different parts of India and abroad. Besides its deep religious significance, the pilgrimage also contributes significantly to the local economy by generating employment for transport operators, pony owners, porters, shopkeepers, and hospitality businesses.
With the first batch now on its way, the spiritual journey to one of Hinduism's holiest shrines has begun, as thousands of devotees prepare to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva during the weeks-long pilgrimage.