The Sacred Amarnath Cave and the Melting Ice Lingam
The sacred Amarnath cave, nestled in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, holds profound spiritual significance for Hindus across India. Within this cave, a naturally occurring ice formation of the Shiva lingam known as “Baba Barfani” is revered as a divine manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Traditionally, the lingam forms naturally every year during the summer months and draws lakhs of devotees during the Amarnath Yatra. However, in recent years, alarming changes have been observed. The ice lingam has begun melting prematurely—sometimes even before the pilgrimage begins—raising serious concerns about the impact of climate change, unsustainable tourism, and regulatory lapses on this fragile ecological and spiritual site.1
Environmental Causes Behind the Melting Phenomenon
There isn’t a single explanation for the Amarnath ice lingam’s rapid melting; rather, a combination of human and natural factors are to blame. Chief among them is climate change. Scientific studies, including those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reveal that the Himalayas are warming at a faster rate than the global average.2
Rising temperatures have altered snowfall patterns and accelerated glacial retreat across the region, and the Amarnath cave is no exception. Even minor increases in ambient temperature can affect the delicate process through which the lingam forms and sustains itself.3
Equally concerning is the unprecedented rise in the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine. While religious devotion is unquestionable, unregulated tourism brings with it human-induced heating, waste, and infrastructural burdens.4
Pilgrims camp along the route in makeshift tents, generate vast amounts of solid waste, and contribute to heat through diesel generators, cooking stoves, and vehicular movement. The use of helicopters for quick access has added to thermal disturbances near the cave site.
Studies have shown that rotor blade activity and engine heat may elevate localized temperatures, directly affecting the ice lingam’s stability.5
Pilgrimage Details & Visitor Numbers (2025)
The Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9, 2025, spanning 38 days—shorter than the 52-day pilgrimage of 2024. By mid‑July, over 331,000 pilgrims had visited the holy cave, with more than 13,000 pilgrims attending on July 17 alone. Another report notes that 360,000+ devotees had darshan by late July, nearing last year’s total of 510,000.
The temperature in the Pahalgam region hovered between 8°C–12°C, about 3–4°C above normal levels.
Ice Lingam Melting: Dramatic Figures
The Shiva lingam had already melted over 50% by the time the Yatra began on July 3, 2025—an unprecedented early onset.
Within the first 10 days of the pilgrimage, it had melted almost completely—only a small base structure remained in the cave.
By mid-July, the lingam, which had previously been 12 to 15 feet tall, had drastically shrunk to about 1.5 to 2 feet.
Comparative Overview
Year
Lingam Duration
Lingam Height
Yatra Duration
2022
28 days
12–15 ft
45–52 days
2023
22 days
Shrinking
45 days
2024
16 days
Shrinking
52 days
2025
10 days
1.5–2 ft
38 days
Constitutional and Statutory Environmental Safeguards
India’s constitutional and legislative framework provides robust protection for its environment, and by extension, ecologically sensitive pilgrimage sites like Amarnath. The right to life is guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, and the judiciary has construed this right broadly to encompass the right to a hygienic and safe environment. The Supreme Court ruled unequivocally in Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991) that environmental degradation is a violation of Article 21.12
Directive Principles under Article 48A obligate the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. This obligation is mirrored in Article 51A(g), which imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen to preserve the natural environment.13
These constitutional mandates are backed by statutory laws such as the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which empowers the central government to take all necessary measures to protect the environment.14 Additionally, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 prohibits using forest land for non-forest uses without permission.15 These provisions are especially relevant because the route to Amarnath passes through ecologically rich forest zones.
Further, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, though primarily aimed at fauna, is applicable to protected zones that include parts of the route, especially in areas where disturbance to wildlife from the pilgrimage has been documented. Despite this legal architecture, enforcement has remained weak, allowing for activities that endanger the sanctity and sustainability of the shrine.16
Judicial Interventions and Court-Ordered Measures
The judiciary has, on several occasions, stepped in to mitigate the ecological damage caused by unchecked pilgrimage activities. In 2012, taking suo motu cognizance of the increasing fatalities during the Amarnath Yatra, the Supreme Court directed the constitution of a High-Powered Committee to study the impact of the pilgrimage and propose regulatory measures. The Court emphasized the need for a proper regulatory framework including limiting daily pilgrim counts, strengthening health facilities, and improving environmental protection measures.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) also played a crucial role in regulating activities around the shrine. In a significant 2017 order, the NGT observed that excessive noise, emissions, and offerings inside the cave could disturb the natural ice formation. It recommended a ban on chanting and other human activities within close proximity to the lingam to maintain a cooler microclimate. The tribunal underscored that religious practices must be harmonized with environmental considerations to prevent irreversible damage.
In 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Court on Its Own Motion v. UT of J&K emphasized annual environmental audits and recommended limiting daily pilgrim footfall to 25,000 based on carrying capacity studies. It took a proactive stance, directing the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to conduct annual environmental audits and to submit compliance reports. It also called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before undertaking any infrastructural changes related to the yatra. The increasing judicial awareness of the need to protect the Amarnath shrine’s natural and spiritual integrity is reflected in these court orders.
Recent Governmental and Administrative Responses
In response to mounting public and judicial pressure, recent years have seen some efforts by the government and SASB to adopt sustainable practices. The 2024 yatra introduced biodegradable travel kits for pilgrims, and the administration began encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials. Carbon footprint assessments were also initiated for the first time, though these remained at a preliminary stage.
Another major initiative was the review of helicopter use. Based on recommendations by environmental experts, proposals were made to restrict the number of flights and develop guidelines to reduce their impact. AI-based weather forecasting tools have been deployed to preempt flash floods, cloudbursts, and other natural calamities that could disrupt the yatra or endanger pilgrims.
Nonetheless, these responses, while encouraging, remain fragmented. A cohesive and enforceable pilgrimage policy that integrates environmental law, religious practices, and scientific assessments is still absent. Without such a framework, temporary administrative fixes will not suffice to address the core problem of ecological degradation.
Recent Government Responses and Gaps
In 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued an advisory to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to minimize helicopter usage and ensure green pilgrimage protocols. However, these advisories remain non-binding. The lack of a legally enforceable ecological carrying capacity policy, real-time monitoring, or effective penalties for violations dilutes their impact.
Meanwhile, green NGOs like WWF-India and Toxics Link have petitioned the government for implementing stricter plastic bans, biodegradable toilets, and waste segregation units along the route.
The Need for a Sustainable Pilgrimage Model
An exceptional example of the intersection of constitutional rights, religious freedom, and environmental obligations is the Amarnath Yatra. Preserving the sanctity of the lingam requires a shift from a purely logistical approach to a values-based environmental governance model. Sustainable pilgrimage must be rooted in the principles of carrying capacity assessment, minimal carbon footprint, and community-based stewardship.
Lessons can be drawn from other environmentally sensitive pilgrimage models, such as the Kedarnath and Vaishno Devi routes, where structured crowd control, digital registration systems, and waste management protocols have been moderately successful. The state must also invest in public awareness campaigns to sensitize devotees about their ecological responsibilities. Local stakeholders, including Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, should be involved in ecological preservation efforts, given their traditional knowledge of the region.
Conclusion
The fast-melting Amarnath ice lingam is a symbol not just of spiritual disruption, but of a larger ecological and legal failure. It reflects the vulnerability of India’s sacred natural heritage in the face of climate change and administrative apathy. While the constitutional and statutory framework for environmental protection is robust, its implementation has been episodic and inconsistent. Judicial interventions have helped to a great extent, but lasting change will only come through integrated policy reform, sustained enforcement, and the internalization of environmental ethics in religious practice.
As the lines between climate urgency and faith-based traditions blur, preserving Amarnath demands not just legal compliance, but a moral awakening. If Shiva is to be worshipped in his icy abode for generations to come, the cave must be protected not just as a site of devotion, but as a living testimony to India’s ecological and cultural resilience.
References:
Down To Earth, “Why Amarnath Lingam Is Melting Faster,” July 2023.
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), 2021–2022.
Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment Report, ICIMOD, 2019.
Sharma, R. “Carbon Footprints of Pilgrimage Sites,” EPW, 2023.
MoEFCC, “Helicopter Use Guidelines,” 2024.
Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Annual Report, 2025.
The Hindu, July 18, 2025.
Indian Express, July 28, 2025.
J&K Dept. of Environment, Ice Monitoring Report, 2025.
Times of India, July 12, 2025.
News18, “Amarnath Lingam Shrinks to 2 Feet,” July 15, 2025.
