As thousands of pilgrims make their way to the Amarnath cave shrine this year, concern is mounting over the rapid melting of the sacred ice lingam, or Baba Barfani.
Reports indicate the naturally formed ice stalagmite has shrunk by more than 90% within days of the 57-day yatra, raising fresh questions about the combined impact of climate change, rising pilgrim numbers and infrastructure development in the fragile Himalayan region.
The melting of the ice lingam is not unprecedented—it naturally forms and recedes each year—but experts say the pace of melting this season is unusually fast and reflects broader environmental changes unfolding across the Himalayas.
Himalayas warming faster than the global average
Scientists have long warned that the Himalayan region is heating faster than the global average, a phenomenon known as elevation-dependent warming. The Amarnath cave, located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, depends on consistently sub-zero temperatures for the ice lingam to form and survive through the pilgrimage season.
According to Dr Eklabya Sharma, Strategic Advisor and Director of The Himalaya Initiative at ATREE and a Padma Shri awardee, the rapid melting is consistent with decades of documented warming across the Himalayan range.
“While no single event should be attributed to climate change alone, it is entirely consistent with the long-term warming trends scientists have observed across the Himalayas,” he said.
Dr Sharma noted that if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, temperatures in parts of the Himalayas could rise by up to 5°C by the end of the century, accelerating glacier retreat, reducing snow cover and increasing the frequency of extreme heat events.
His team’s research found that Himalayan snow and glacier cover declined by more than 23% between 2000 and 2022, with the pace of loss increasing significantly after 2010.
Earlier snowmelt, shrinking snow line
Professor B.W. Pandey, Director of the Centre for Himalayan Studies at the University of Delhi, said the ice lingam is now melting much earlier than it did in previous decades.
“Earlier, the shrine would melt over nearly a month. This year, it has almost disappeared within about two weeks,” he said, attributing the change to global warming and shifting climatic conditions across the Himalayas.
Pandey added that the region’s snow line has already retreated by more than 500 metres, while alpine plant and animal species are gradually moving to higher elevations in response to rising temperatures.
Global weather patterns also play a role
Experts say the Himalayan climate is also influenced by large-scale atmospheric circulation.
Pandey explained that heatwaves originating over the Atlantic and Mediterranean can alter atmospheric conditions over north-western India, intensifying warming in the western Himalayas alongside the long-term effects of climate change.
Pilgrim influx and the cave’s fragile microclimate
Beyond global climate trends, researchers point to changes in the cave’s immediate environment.
The Amarnath cave maintains a delicate microclimate that allows the ice stalagmite to form naturally. Large numbers of visitors generate body heat, increase humidity and raise air temperatures inside the enclosed space, all of which can accelerate melting.
This year, more than 93,000 pilgrims visited the shrine during the first four days of the yatra, putting additional pressure on the cave environment.
Professor Sarmistha Pattanaik of IIT Bombay said the issue cannot be viewed through climate science alone.
“It is an interaction between environmental change and human activity. Rising temperatures, declining snowfall, heavy tourism and infrastructure expansion together are affecting the cave ecosystem,” she said.
She added that artificial lighting, generators, temporary shelters and other facilities constructed to support the pilgrimage may also contribute to localized warming around the shrine.
Infrastructure adds to environmental stress
Over the years, improved roads, accommodation, electricity, solar lighting and community facilities have made the pilgrimage safer and more accessible. However, experts say these developments also alter the cave’s thermal environment.
According to Pattanaik, construction activity, machinery and support infrastructure can disturb the cave’s natural insulation and surrounding topography, making it more vulnerable to warming.
Balancing faith and conservation
Environmental experts stress that preserving the Amarnath shrine requires balancing religious traditions with ecological protection.
Suggested measures include regulating daily pilgrim numbers, limiting permanent infrastructure near the cave, reducing heat-generating activities around the shrine and strengthening environmental governance while safeguarding the livelihoods of local communities that depend on the annual pilgrimage.
Dr Sharma said protecting the Himalayan ecosystem extends beyond preserving a sacred site.
“Protecting this fragile mountain system is essential not only for its ecological and cultural heritage, but also for the biodiversity, water security and livelihoods of millions of people who depend on Himalayan rivers downstream,” he said.
Comments are closed.