Jammu, Oct 4: Donations at the 3,880 metre high Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas have skyrocketed, recording a 100-fold increase since the resumption of the annual pilgrimage after Covid restrictions, official data has revealed.
According to figures released by the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) in response to an RTI query by Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar Sharma, cash donations rose from Rs 9.23 lakh in 2020-21 to Rs 9.75 crore in 2025-26. The offerings peaked in 2024-25 at over Rs 11.58 crore, slightly higher than Rs 11.15 crore in 2023-24.
After the Covid-induced suspension of the yatra in 2020 and 2021, the pilgrimage saw a strong revival, drawing over 3 lakh pilgrims in 2022, 4.5 lakh in 2023, 5.1 lakh in 2024, and 4.1 lakh in 2025. However, the 2025 yatra, which began on July 3, was cut short due to rain-damaged tracks.
The SASB’s chief accounts officer confirmed the cash donations received at the shrine as follows:
2020-21: Rs 9.23 lakh
2021-22: Rs 12.29 lakh
2022-23: Rs 9.14 crore
2023-24: Rs 11.16 crore
2024-25: Rs 11.59 crore
2025-26: Rs 9.75 crore
While cash offerings soared, online donations declined, falling from Rs 2.39 crore in 2022-23 to just Rs 80.64 lakh in 2025-26, reflecting a shift back to traditional practices.
Pilgrim registration fees also witnessed exponential growth, from a negligible Rs 12,000 in 2020-21 to Rs 7.71 crore in 2025-26, attributed to rising footfall and improved infrastructure.
Officials linked the surge in Amarnath Shrine donations to the full-scale resumption of the yatra, enhanced facilities, and a growing base of registered devotees. However, the SASB did not disclose details of jewellery, gold, silver, or precious stones received, marking them as “Not Available” in its RTI reply.