Amarnath Yatra Bookings Crash After Indo-Pak Tension

Ahmedabad, Gujarat –  The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, coupled with escalating tension between India and Pakistan, has caused a wave of cancellations and a near-complete halt in Amarnath Yatra bookings across Gujarat. Tourists and pilgrims are increasingly avoiding travel to the region, creating massive losses for tour operators, hoteliers, and the transport sector.

Despite thousands of people registering for the pilgrimage every year, the scenario has changed drastically this time. Many travel companies report a 100% drop in inquiries and bookings.

“Every year by this time, at least 3,000 bookings would have been done from Vadodara alone. This year, not a single one,” said Dewanbhai of Modern Travels. He added, “After the attack, all our Jammu-Kashmir tours have been cancelled. People are now choosing destinations like Kullu-Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala.”

Even slashed hotel prices haven’t helped. “Earlier we used to pay ₹3,500 per room. Now rooms are available for ₹1,200–1,500, yet no one is ready to go,” Dewanbhai explained. He hinted that the Yatra could potentially be suspended this year if the situation worsens.

Jariwala Travels’ Diwanbhai echoed similar concerns, “The Amarnath Yatra starts from Pahalgam, the very site of the attack. We had to refund entire groups. This is the first time in many years we’ve seen a 95% drop in interest.”

In Ahmedabad, Suhag Modi of Akshar Travels confirmed a complete freeze in bookings. “Earlier we received many inquiries every day. Since the attack and India’s airstrike, there have been zero inquiries. The airports are closed, and the situation remains tense,” he said. However, he noted that the Chardham Yatra remains unaffected, and bookings for Delhi, Nainital, and other North Indian destinations are picking up.

Gandhi Travels’ Siddiqbhai added, “We sent messages to our regular pilgrims for Amarnath bookings, but not one person has responded. That’s unprecedented.”

In Surat, while over 6,500 people had planned to participate in the Amarnath Yatra, the process to issue fitness certificates has slowed down considerably. “Separate arrangements at Surat Civil Hospital were cancelled due to low footfall. Now everything is being handled through the RMO office,” said an official source.

Chirag Patel, another operator, said, “We didn’t even print pamphlets this time. We usually do heavy advertising, but there has been zero response post-attack.”

Interestingly, group bookings are still holding up, as per Minesh Nayak of South Gujarat Association of Travel Agents.

“People travelling in groups are continuing their plans. But solo travelers are on standby,” he said. He hopes that things will normalize in the coming weeks.

In Rajkot, the decline is stark. According to Mahendra Chavda, Media Coordinator at Civil Hospital:

“Last year, 2,000 people registered from our hospital alone. This year, it’s just 900. Not a single registration has happened since the Pahalgam attack.”

The total registration from Rajkot was 2,655 last year. This year, only 1,388 pilgrims have registered — a drop of nearly 50%. Authorities had anticipated over 3,000 this year due to initial enthusiasm, but security fears have turned the tide.