The annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will begin on July 3, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday. Pre-registrations for the yatra — which will last for 57 days and end on August 28 — will begin on April 15, news agency PTI reported.
“Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and end on August 28. Overall, this year’s pilgrimage will be a little longer, lasting about 57 days,” Sinha said.
The dates for the yatra were fixed at a meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), which Sinha chaired. According to the guidelines, only those between the ages of 13 and 70 will be able to perform Hajj.
The first puja will be performed on June 19, on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima.
Registration and Methods: Everything you know about Amarnath Yatra
• In advance, register online – Registration for Amarnath Yatra has been made mandatory and will start from April 15.
Pre-registration will be done through over 550 selected bank branches across India.
The online registration will be available on the official website of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, LG said.
Registration for a particular yatra date will close seven days before.
The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has released a detailed step-by-step procedure for pilgrims on its official website – jksasb.nic.in.
• Accredited banks – The registrations will be done through the associated branches of Yes Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Axis Bank, PTI quoted Sinha as saying.
This will be done on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be subject to the daily quota specified for each track in each specific branch.
Banks have been directed to set up help desks, conduct training for employees and conduct publicity campaigns for smooth registration, as per the guidelines.
• Roads – The yatra will start from two dual routes – the 48 km Noonwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the 14 km Baltal route in Ganderbal district which is shorter but steeper.
• Health certificate Pilgrims must obtain a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC), dated on or after April 8, 2026, from an accredited doctor or medical institution. A prescribed fee of $150 must also be given for each permit.
The SASB has released a list of doctors and institutions authorized to issue compulsory health certificates in all states and union territories. It will then be verified by the bank branches to ensure its authenticity and validity.
Apart from age restrictions, women with more than six weeks of pregnancy will also not be allowed to undertake the yatra, though there is a mandatory health certificate.
• Yatra statement – Designated bank branches will verify the validity and validity of the CHC before issuing the system generated yatra pass, which will also specify the route chosen – Baltal or Pahalgam.
This permit will also mention the date on which the pilgrim will be allowed to cross the access control gates at Domil (Baltal axis) or Chandanwari (Pahalgam axis), the guidelines said. The shrine board has asked pilgrims to verify authenticity of Aadhaar and contact details during the registration process.
