Amarnath Yatra records resurgence despite natural & man-made disruptions

16-07-2025

Srinagar: In the face of natural disasters, pandemics, and security challenges, the Amarnath Yatra continues to stand as a powerful testament to unshakable devotion. Over the past 15 years, more than 51 lakh pilgrims have defied the odds to reach the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir—underscoring that for millions, faith remains stronger than fear.Official records chart a turbulent yet inspiring journey of the annual pilgrimage to south Kashmir Himalayas, with footfall rising and falling in response to everything from terrorist threats to cloudbursts. The yatra peaked in 2012, when 6.35 lakh devotees made the arduous journey. But by 2016, numbers had plummeted to 2.21 lakh, amid rising security concerns and political unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani..Fresh batch of 7,200 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath yatra.Despite the setbacks, the spiritual pull of the yatra has endured. From 4.55 lakh pilgrims in 2010 to 6.21 lakh in 2011, the early years of the last decade saw high participation. Then came a period of disruption—from violent protests to devastating weather events—that tested the resilience of both pilgrims and the administration.The COVID-19 pandemic brought the pilgrimage to a standstill in 2020 and 2021, forcing a complete suspension. Yet the spirit of devotion could not be quarantined for long. The yatra resumed in 2022 with 3.04 lakh pilgrims, followed by 4.50 lakh in 2023, and a decade-high 5 lakh in 2024, including a growing number of international participants.This year's 2025 Amarnath Yatra, which is currently underway, has already witnessed nearly 2.40 lakh pilgrims paying obeisance at the high-altitude cave shrine. With three weeks left before its scheduled conclusion on August 9, the turnout is expected to rise significantly..Police mock drills conducted along Amarnath Yatra route in Kashmir for pilgrims' safety.The duration of the pilgrimage has also seen changes over the years. While the 2021 yatra was planned for 56 days but suspended due to the pandemic, it was held over 43 days in 2022, 62 days in 2023, and 52 days in 2024. The current yatra spans 38 days, balancing tradition with logistical preparedness.Officials credit the resurgence to enhanced infrastructure, stronger disaster preparedness, and tighter security. Pilgrims now benefit from real-time weather alerts, RFID tracking, and well-equipped medical camps.Yet, risks remain. Cloudbursts like the one in 2022 that claimed over a dozen lives, frequent landslides, and sporadic militant threats continue to cast a shadow. But they have not deterred the faithful. 'The Amarnath Yatra is a journey of devotion through danger—where belief triumphs over adversity,' said a senior official overseeing the pilgrimage.From icy paths to spiritual resolve, the story of the Amarnath Yatra is not just one of endurance but of defiance in the face of fear. Year after year, it reaffirms that no force—natural or man-made—can shake the faith of the pilgrims who tread an uphill spiritual odyssey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine nestled in the folds of the Himalayas to seek divine blessings.

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Andaman admin plans to promote bird watching for tourists

News18

5 hours ago

News18

Andaman admin plans to promote bird watching for tourists

Agency: PTI Last Updated: Port Blair, Jul 26 (PTI) The Andaman and Nicobar administration has initiated a programme to promote bird watching to attract tourists and raise awareness among locals about the avian species in the archipelago, an official said on Saturday. During the day, the authorities, in collaboration with Avian Club Andaman and Nicobar, organised a public lecture here, she said. Speaking to PTI, Tourism secretary Jyoti Kumari said, 'Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to many endemic birds. The initiative has been taken to create awareness on the islands' rich avifauna diversity, potential of different segments of tourism, and to encourage responsible travel practices." The pristine forests, wetlands, and unique island ecosystems make the archipelago a paradise for birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and eco-conscious travellers, she said. The lecture was delivered by Arun Singh, an ornithologist and President of the Avian Club, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who has been at the forefront of bird conservation and eco-tourism advocacy in the region. Singh said, 'With over 30 endemic bird species, the Andaman islands are rapidly emerging as a new hotspot for bird tourism. The archipelago is gaining international recognition among bird lovers and wildlife photographers. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of birdwatchers and professionals visiting the islands has grown steadily," he said. Notable endemic species, such as Andaman wood pigeon (state bird of Andaman), Andaman crake and serpent eagle, attract global enthusiasts, he said. Other birds like the ruddy kingfisher, beach thick-knee, and black-naped tern are rare and primarily found in the Andamans or parts of Southeast Asia, giving every visiting bird watcher a chance to tick something special off their list, Singh said. He also raised concerns about threats such as wetland reclamation, land conversion, illegal bird hunting using airguns, and invasive species impacting native bird populations. 'Infrastructure challenges – including limited access to birding sites, lack of well-developed trails, a few trained guides, and scarce scientific data – hinder the growth of bird tourism. Despite these issues, the administration is showcasing the potential of bird-based tourism as a model for sustainable development," he added. PTI SN SN BDC (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 16:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sri Lanka to extend its visa-free travel policy for 40 countries; India also on the list

Time of India

7 hours ago

Time of India

Sri Lanka to extend its visa-free travel policy for 40 countries; India also on the list

In a bid to boost tourism and recover from an economic crisis, Sri Lanka has announced plans to extend its free tourist visa policy to 40 additional countries, according to a news shared by PTI. The news was confirmed by Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath during the inauguration of the 'Hotel Show Colombo 2025'. As of now, there were only seven countries, including India which were allowed visa-free entry in Sri Lanka. The decision comes after the cabinet approved to expand the list to 40 countries. However, the Government of Sri Lanka will have to suffer an annual revenue loss of USD 66 million because of visa fee waiver, mentioned the minister. But he also said that indirect economic benefits from increased tourist footfall would be more than the loss. The initiative aims to boost tourism as part of Sri Lanka's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 financial crisis. 'We have stabilised the economy, and through policy changes in tourism, we aim to ensure steady growth in arrivals,' the minister said. The visa waiver is one of the well-planned strategic moves to boost the economy of the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Salma Hayek, 58,Shows Her Huge Size In New Photos Boite A Scoop Undo Earlier, visa fee waivers were limited to seven countries, including China, India, and Japan. The trial phase began in March 2023 and it was deemed successful. Following the success, the Cabinet has decided to extend the policy to 40 more countries, to attract worldwide travellers. New List of countries: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Federal Republic of Germany Kingdom of the Netherlands Kingdom of Belgium Kingdom of Spain Commonwealth of Australia Republic of Poland Republic of Kazakhstan Kingdom of Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal People's Republic of China Republic of India Republic of Indonesia Russian Federation Kingdom of Thailand Federation of Malaya Japan Republic of France United States of America Canada Czech Republic (Czechia) Republic of Italy Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) Republic of Austria State of Israel Republic of Belarus Islamic Republic of Iran Kingdom of Sweden Republic of Finland Kingdom of Denmark Republic of Korea State of Qatar Sultanate of Oman Kingdom of Bahrain New Zealand State of Kuwait Kingdom of Norway Republic of Türkiye The Free Visa policy is already for 7 nations, including India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. Now, these countries are also now part of the list.

How Indian airlines are benefiting from Look East Policy

Mint

11 hours ago

Mint

How Indian airlines are benefiting from Look East Policy

For years, successive governments have had the 'Look East' policy to work with the South East Asian nations and offer a counterbalance to China's influence in the region. In 2014, this 'Look East' was converted to 'Act East' with a focus on economic connections, defence co-operation, and most importantly, people-to-people connect. The people-to-people connect part has greatly benefited the airlines, with the winners being Indian carriers in some cases, while foreign carriers in others. The change has been drastic from pre-COVID times to today and has been fuelled by the need from ASEAN to replace or hedge Chinese tourists, who remained away for a longer period due to restrictions in place by the Chinese government on travel. This meant that tourism-heavy economies like Thailand started offering incentives like free visas for Indians to travel, leading to a spurt in tourist traffic. Overall, the India-ASEAN market has been a mix of new connections, increased services and a growth like no other. Data obtained from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, exclusively for this article, shows that there has been a giant leap in connectivity, with Indian carriers also benefiting from this. In December 2019, the last full month of operations in the world before COVID started taking its toll, India did not have a connection with Brunei, Laos, the Philippines and Cambodia among the 10 ASEAN nations. Today, Royal Brunei operates a thrice-a-week service to Chennai; Air Cambodia flies twice a week to Delhi; Air India is starting flights to Manila in September while Laos remains the only blank spot right now. Among all the countries and connectivity, the India-Vietnam connectivity has seen a new high. From just 21 flights a week in December 2019, the connectivity has now gone up to 82 weekly flights. However, only 21 out of these are operated by Indian carriers — 14 by IndiGo and seven by Air India. The rest are being operated by the two Vietnamese carriers, Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. Their network in India has spanned to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi and Hyderabad to connect to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, after having tried a few other variations. Overall, the seats went up nearly four times, and frequencies have gone up three times. While the India-Vietnam sector has seen the foreign carriers rule over Indian ones, the story is exactly opposite to Indonesia. By December 2019, all the Indonesian carriers had pulled out of India where multiple variations like non-stop and one-stop flights via Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok had been tried to connect Jakarta and Bali to points in India. On the other side of COVID, IndiGo and Vistara (later Air India) have 21 weekly frequencies to Indonesia, with IndiGo operating a daily flight to Jakarta from Mumbai and to Bali from Bengaluru while Air India operates to Bali from Delhi. The India-Malaysia market has remained more or less the same, with a slight drop. There are 42,124 weekly seats each way across 222 frequencies between India and Malaysia. While IndiGo reduced its presence at Kuala Lumpur, it added flights to Penang and Langkawi from Chennai and Bengaluru respectively, while Air India returned to Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian carriers have shrunk 11 per cent even though they have tried multiple options having maxed out on seats to metros due to bilateral restrictions. The India-Singapore market comprises 57,611 weekly seats across 247 flights this August, a slump of 10 per cent compared to 2019. The Singaporean side has shrunk by 8 per cent since 2019, while the Indian side has remained constant. August also sees seasonal variations to Singapore and often sees drop in capacity by seats or frequencies. The biggest gainer for seats in the market between pre-COVID and today has been Thailand. This also is the biggest market among the three nations by seats on offer. There was an addition of 35 weekly frequencies and a growth of 10 per cent in connectivity between India and Thailand. The connectivity recalibrated with new points being connected, like Surat-Bangkok, Pune-Bangkok, Bhubaneshwar-Bangkok, Bengaluru-Krabi, Kolkata-Phuket, among others. The Indian carriers grew close to 25 per cent in the India-Thailand market, taking a fair share even after the fall of Go Air, while the Thai carriers shrank about 5 per cent. The total seats on offer each week between India and Thailand stands at 71,350. The people connect is driven by affordability and opening up of new connections, making it far easier to visit tourist destinations like Krabi, Phuket, Langkawi, Penang or Bali. The total cost, often a true measure of holiday expenditure, dictates the travel plans and Indonesia, Vietnam or Thailand stand out compared to the Maldives, where there was a diplomatic row last year, or European destinations which not only are expensive but also have challenges and lead time issues for visa. The strategic dependence on Indian tourism bodes well for the country as a whole, even when we struggle to attract as many foreigners and the international traffic is dominated by Indians travelling abroad.