Srinagar, Apr 15: The registration process for this year’s Amarnath Yatra began on Tuesday, with hundreds of devotees rushing to authorised bank branches across the country to complete the formalities for the spiritual journey.
The annual pilgrimage, which takes devotees to the holy Amarnath cave in south Kashmir, will commence from July 3 and conclude on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
The registration is being facilitated through more than 540 designated bank branches which include 316 branches of Punjab National Bank, 97 of State Bank of India, 90 of Jammu & Kashmir Bank, and 37 of Yes Bank.
The registration counters have also been set up at Panchayat Bhawan, Vaishnavi Dham, and Mahajan Hall in Jammu. Pilgrims can also opt for online registration through the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’s official website: www.jksasb.nic.in.
As per the officials, registration is compulsory for every pilgrim, and a Compulsory Health Certificate issued by an authorised medical institution is required to ensure physical fitness for the high-altitude trek. Each pilgrim is also required to carry a Radio Frequency Identification card, and the registration fee has been fixed at Rs 220. Authorities have capped the number of yatris at 15,000 per day, distributed equally between the two routes.
This year, the pilgrimage will be conducted through two tracks—the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, which is longer and more scenic, and the shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The total duration of the Yatra will be 38 days.
The official announcement regarding the Yatra dates was made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during the 48th board meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board held at Raj Bhawan on March 5. The meeting also laid out several measures to improve the overall Yatra experience and ensure better facilities for pilgrims.
In anticipation of increased pilgrim footfall, the administration has decided to upgrade infrastructure at several locations. Lodging capacity is being expanded in Jammu, Srinagar, and other major halting stations. New Yatri facilitation centres are being established at places like Nowgam and Katra Railway Stations for on-the-spot registration, e-KYC, and RFID issuance.
Similar arrangements are also being planned for locations en route to the shrine, including Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan, and Pantha Chowk.
Officials said that the administration, in collaboration with the Shrine Board, is working on improving sanitation, mobile connectivity, medical services, and security arrangements. Battery-operated vehicles will be available on the Baltal-Domel stretch to assist pilgrims with mobility issues.
The Shrine Board has introduced a prepaid digital payment system to facilitate the hiring of ponies, porters, and palkis. Enhanced security measures such as drone surveillance and mine-proof vehicles have also been proposed to ensure a safe pilgrimage.
