With Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 set to commence from Friday, hundreds of service providers have reached Baltal base camp and set up tents, langars, shops, and pony stands along the 14-km route to the holy cave.
Since June 20, trucks carrying tents, ration, gas cylinders, and generators have been lining up at Baltal. Hundreds of tents are being pitched across Baltal, Domail areas. Langar organisations from Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi have installed community kitchens. “We left Ludhiana on June 22. By July 3, we will serve 10,000 yatris daily,” said Ramesh Kumar, who has been running a langar at Baltal for 12 years.
Baltal area of Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, which remains the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, is abuzz with the different activities these days as the pilgrimage is about to commence.
Like every year, hundreds of service providers, most of them locals, who are the main facilitators, have reached the base camp Baltal, Dumail and cave route.
They are busy setting up their establishments, mostly makeshift tents and shops during the last few days. Besides them, the labourers, Ponywallas, Palkiwalas have also reached Baltal and are waiting for the yatra to start.
Amid tight security arrangements put in place, the annual Amarnath yatra will commence on July 3 from both sides of Pahalgam in South Kashmir and Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Langar organisers praised the government's arrangements, saying adequate facilities have been put in place to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free pilgrimage. Local labourers also welcomed the preparations, saying the yatra provides vital seasonal employment and livelihood opportunities for hundreds of people associated with the pilgrimage. Baltal route in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is the shortest route.