Plan your trip · Pahalgam
What's on in Pahalgam
Pahalgam's year revolves around the Amarnath pilgrimage. Here is what happens when, and what it means for anyone visiting.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Pahalgam right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Pahalgam
Pahalgam runs on a short season: the festivals that matter cluster into the months the passes and roads are comfortably open, and a lot of the calendar simply stops in deep winter. Broadly, Apr – Jun and Jul – Sep is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Across Jammu & Kashmir
Amarnath Yatra
🗓️ July–AugustThe pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, on foot from Chandanwari (Pahalgam) or Baltal (Sonamarg).
Planning: Registration and a health certificate are compulsory; convoys, security and traffic shape every road in the valley.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Amarnath Yatra (July to August)
The pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave is Pahalgam's biggest event. Registered pilgrims set out from Chandanwari, about 16 km from town, on the traditional route past Sheshnag and Panchtarni. In 2026 the Yatra ran from 3 July to 28 August. Base camps, langar kitchens and medical posts spring up along the route, and the town is full.
What it means for visitors: heavy security, convoy timings on the highway from Srinagar, restricted movement on some roads, and rooms and taxis booked far ahead. Chandanwari and the route above it are for registered pilgrims during this period.
The Chhari Mubarak
At the end of each Yatra, the Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Shiva, is carried in procession from Srinagar to the cave, with a ritual halt and prayers in Pahalgam. It reaches the cave on Shravan Purnima, the full moon that also marks Raksha Bandhan, and the pilgrimage closes.
22 April
On 22 April 2025, 26 people were killed in an attack at Baisaran meadow above Pahalgam. The anniversary is marked quietly in the town, with prayers and visits to the memorial to the victims. If you are in Pahalgam around that date, expect a subdued mood and a strong security presence.
Eid and Ramadan
Both Eids arrive about 11 days sooner each year, following the moon. During Ramadan, some local eateries close by day. On Eid, many local staff, pony handlers and drivers take time off, so arrange transport in advance.
Seasonal markers
Rafting on the Lidder usually starts around May, once the snowmelt settles. Shepherd families move their flocks up through the valley to high pastures in early summer and back down in autumn. Snow closes the higher roads from around December.
Checking dates
Yatra dates are fixed by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board each spring. Access to sites around Pahalgam changes with security reviews. Check both close to your trip. See the best time to visit for the seasons.
Questions
Pahalgam — FAQ
When is the Amarnath Yatra from Pahalgam?
In July and August, ending on Shravan Purnima. In 2026 it ran from 3 July to 28 August.
Can tourists go to Chandanwari during the Yatra?
During the Yatra, Chandanwari is a base for registered pilgrims, and general tourist access is restricted. Check locally.
What happens in Pahalgam on 22 April?
The anniversary of the 2025 Baisaran attack is marked quietly with prayers and visits to the memorial. Security is heightened.