Archive · 25 Jul 2026
Machail Mata Yatra Begins July 28
The Machail Mata Yatra is a special journey that people make to visit the Machail Mata shrine in the Paddar Valley of Kishtwar.
This year, the yatra starts on July 28, but only if the weather is good.
The shrine is very high up in the mountains, at 9,705 feet.
People will travel almost the whole way by road and then walk the last 1.7 km to reach the shrine.
To keep everyone safe, only 8,000 people are allowed to go each day, and they have to register online.
There will be special tracking systems and security to make sure everyone is safe.
Last year, a bad storm hurt many people, so this year they are being extra careful.
The Machail Mata Yatra begins on July 28, subject to weather conditions.
A daily cap of 8,000 pilgrims has been set for safety reasons.
Pilgrims must register online and will be tracked using an RFID system.
The shrine is located at an altitude of 9,705 feet in the Paddar Valley.
Strict safety measures, including police and NDRF deployment, have been implemented.
- Who
- Pilgrims and the district administration of Kishtwar
- What
- The annual Machail Mata Yatra
- When
- Starting July 28, subject to weather conditions
- Where
- Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir
- Why
- To allow devotees to visit the Machail Mata shrine after it reopened on April 14
Pilgrimage Safety Measures
Pilgrimage Accessibility
Safety vs. Accessibility
Pilgrimage Safety Measures
The district administration has implemented strict safety measures, including a daily cap of 8,000 pilgrims and mandatory online registration with RFID tracking, to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Pilgrimage Accessibility
Some pilgrims may find the strict regulations and limited daily cap restrictive, potentially making it difficult for all devotees to participate in the yatra.
- Start Date
- July 28
- Daily Pilgrim Cap
- 8,000
- Total Distance
- 304.7 km
- Final Trek Distance
- 1.7 km
- Altitude of Shrine
- 9,705 feet
- Registration Method
- 100% online and mandatory
- Safety Measures
- RFID tracking, police, NDRF, SDRF, Army deployment
- Previous Incident
- 63 killed in 2023 cloudburst