Jammu, June 17 – In a significant update for devotees planning to undertake the sacred Shri Amarnathji Yatra in 2025, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has officially announced that helicopter services will not be available during the pilgrimage period—from July 1 to August 10, 2025. The decision, though challenging for many, is rooted in enhanced security measures meant to ensure a safe and peaceful Yatra for everyone.
As per the directive, all routes to the revered cave shrine—including the traditional Pahalgam and Baltal axes—have been declared ‘No Flying Zones’. This includes a complete ban on drones, UAVs, balloons, or any form of aerial devices. The order follows security advisories from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and was formally issued by J&K’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on June 16, just a day before crucial security meetings were held in Srinagar.
This means that thousands of pilgrims will need to undertake the spiritual journey on foot or with the help of ponies and palkis, the traditional means of transport used by yatris for decades. While this may demand more physical effort and preparation, authorities believe it will contribute to a more secure and spiritually immersive experience.
However, exceptions have been made for emergency evacuations, disaster management efforts, and security surveillance, which will continue under detailed guidelines yet to be issued.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly,” shared a source from SASB. “It’s about ensuring that each pilgrim’s journey is safeguarded to the highest degree. Our aim is a peaceful, unhindered Yatra.”
Earlier security assessments, including visits by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and high-level coordination meetings, emphasized the importance of a fool-proof security framework. The J&K administration is working round-the-clock with all agencies to ensure infrastructure, medical care, and support systems are in place.
On June 11, LG Manoj Sinha, who also serves as SASB Chairman, inspected the Baltal route, marking the first such visit by a board chairman on this challenging path. He later announced that new safety features like hand railings, surface improvements, and wire mesh installations would be in place along risky zones for Yatra 2025.
While the absence of helicopter services may seem like a setback for some, it reaffirms the government’s focus on prioritizing safety over convenience. Pilgrims are advised to prepare accordingly—physically and mentally—for the trek and take into account weather conditions, altitude, and health factors.
For many devotees, this walk toward the holy cave will now not only be a test of endurance but also a deeper spiritual engagement with the divine—a journey truly made on faith, one step at a time.
