A year after the Pahalgam terror attack disrupted tourism and pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir, the ongoing Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a remarkable return of devotees. However, as record numbers of pilgrims flock to the holy cave shrine, the naturally formed ice lingam, revered as Baba Barfani, has reportedly melted by more than 90 per cent. Some reports have even suggested that the sacred ice formation has almost disappeared within just five days of the 57-day pilgrimage. Similar claims have also circulated widely on social media.
Expressing concern over the development, People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti shared images of the shrinking ice lingam and questioned the management of the Amarnath Yatra, calling for intervention. Highlighting the possible environmental impact on the fragile shrine, she referred to the Supreme Court-mandated limit of 10,000 pilgrims per day, even as authorities celebrated the sharp rise in pilgrim turnout compared to last year following the terror attack.
The rapid shrinking of the centuries-old ice formation has once again revived a long-standing debate. Is climate change causing the ice lingam to melt earlier each year? Or are increasing pilgrim numbers and expanding infrastructure within the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region accelerating the process?
The Amarnath Cave Shrine is situated at an altitude of around 3,888 metres (12,756 feet) in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, beneath the Lidder Valley. Pilgrims can reach the shrine either through the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route.
The shrine houses a naturally formed seasonal ice stalagmite, worshipped as the Shiv Lingam, whose size varies every year depending on weather conditions, snowfall and the cave's internal temperature.
IS RECORD PILGRIM FOOTFALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EARLY MELTING?
This year's Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3 under heightened security arrangements following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. Despite security concerns, the pilgrimage has recorded an impressive turnout.
Nearly 93,000 devotees visited the shrine during the first four days of the Yatra.
An Instagram video that went viral showed a woman with prosthetic limbs climbing the Baltal route using a wooden stick and a forearm crutch.
According to The Hindu, more than 32,000 pilgrims had offered prayers by July 5, while over 20,000 devotees visited the shrine on the second day alone, marking the highest second-day turnout in several years. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), described it as a "massive surge" compared to the previous four years.
At the same time, the administration expressed concern over thousands of unregistered pilgrims arriving without mandatory health certificates or RFID registration, warning that the influx was placing additional pressure on security arrangements and existing infrastructure.
"We are seeing a large influx of unregistered pilgrims. I strongly urge those without prior registration to remain patient and wait for their turn. This cooperation is essential for a smooth and seamless Yatra experience," Sinha said.
The Shrine Board has fixed a daily limit of 10,000 pilgrims each on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
When asked whether a cap on pilgrim numbers was necessary, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that such a restriction had already been imposed by the Supreme Court, according to PTI.
HAS THE AMARNATH ICE LINGAM REALLY MELTED?
Reports from the shrine, along with accounts from devotees and journalists, suggest that the ice lingam has shrunk considerably within the first week of the pilgrimage.
India Today journalist Ashraf Wani wrote on X on July 6, "Once again, the naturally formed Shiv lingam at Holy Amarnath Cave has melted within the first week of Amarnath Yatra," while referring to global warming and Kashmir.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti also posted on X, saying that the naturally formed lingam had melted within a week of the Yatra and questioned whether the proposed ropeway project to the shrine was necessary.
Srinagar-based entrepreneur Vineet Kaul, known as GuyFromValley on X, pointed out that this was not the first instance of early melting. He noted that similar situations had occurred in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2016 and 2020, while stressing that the issue should not be dismissed.
Describing the proposed ropeway near the shrine as "absolutely abhorrent", Kaul argued that while better infrastructure and improved safety measures were necessary, the ecological balance and sanctity of the region should remain a priority.
Several reports suggested that the ice formation had melted by over 90 per cent, while others claimed it had almost disappeared entirely. However, at the time of publication, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board had not released any official statement or scientific assessment confirming the extent of the melting.
A devotee from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who visited the shrine during the early days of the pilgrimage, told India Today TV that the reduction in the size of the ice lingam was clearly visible.
"The ice lingam has melted to some extent. This year, it has melted earlier than usual. The changing weather is also affecting people's faith because earlier Baba Barfani would remain visible for around 40 to 45 days. In recent years, that duration has reduced to only five to seven days. We had darshan on the fourth day of the Yatra, but by then the lingam had already become much smaller," he said.
The naturally occurring ice stalagmite changes in size every year depending on snowfall, humidity, cave temperatures and prevailing weather conditions. Its dimensions have never remained constant across pilgrimage seasons.
WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE BEING CONSIDERED THE BIGGEST FACTOR?
Scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayas are warming faster than many other mountain regions around the world. Rising temperatures, changing snowfall patterns and retreating glaciers have become increasingly evident across Jammu and Kashmir.
Recent reports have linked unusually warm conditions around the cave and nearby glaciers to the accelerated melting of the ice stalagmite. Located at nearly 3,900 metres above sea level, the cave is highly sensitive to even small increases in ambient temperature and changes in humidity, both of which can influence the formation and survival of the naturally occurring ice structure.
This is not the first instance of early melting. According to an AajTak Digital report, the ice lingam melted within 29 days in 2018, 38 days in 2020, 28 days in 2022 and within about a week in 2024. This year, the melting appears to have occurred even earlier.
However, climate change may not be the only contributing factor.
Over the past two decades, the Amarnath pilgrimage route has undergone major infrastructural changes. Roads have been widened, temporary accommodation expanded, community kitchens have been established closer to the shrine, electricity and solar lighting introduced, and heavy machinery deployed to improve accessibility. The Centre has also approved a ropeway project, while discussions continue regarding a proposed tunnel between Sheshnag and Panchtarni.
Although these developments have improved safety and accessibility for pilgrims, experts believe that the cumulative impact of expanding infrastructure and increasing human activity in such an ecologically sensitive region may be altering the cave's microclimate. The growing number of devotees visiting the shrine has further intensified these concerns.
Congress national spokesperson Ashwani Handa urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to commission an independent scientific study to determine whether the recently constructed rain shelter near the Amarnath Cave was affecting the local microclimate and contributing to the faster melting of the sacred ice lingam. In a post on X, Handa called for a transparent, evidence-based assessment to safeguard both the shrine's sanctity and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
According to AajTak Digital, annual pilgrim numbers, which stood at around one lakh two decades ago, crossed six lakh in both 2011 and 2012. Although the numbers declined following the Covid-19 pandemic and the Pahalgam terror attack, they have risen once again this year. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has also highlighted the large number of unregistered pilgrims, warning that it is placing additional pressure on both security arrangements and the Yatra's infrastructure.
At present, no official scientific study has identified a single reason behind the early melting of the ice lingam. However, the latest developments have once again underscored the need to strike a careful balance between facilitating one of India's largest religious pilgrimages and preserving the fragile Himalayan environment that sustains the sacred ice formation revered by millions of devotees.
