This year’s Amarnath pilgrimage will commence from both Baltal and Pahalgam treks on July 1 and conclude on August 24, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, it was formally announced here on Tuesday.
Mr. R.K. Goyal, chief executive officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), said that the registration of the yatris will begin on June 5 at all the registration counters established in 121 designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank across the country and these will remain open for three hours from 3 pm on all working week days and for three hours from 1 pm on all working Saturdays. The details of these branches are available on the board’s website (www.shriamarnathjishrine.com [1]).
He added that because of the longer distance and travel time, the registration of pilgrims from the traditional Pahalgam route in south of the Valley will not be allowed after August 22 whereas the registration in respect of the Baltal route north of Srinagar, which is much shorter, will close on August 23 and that the registration will be done on “first come first serve basis.” This year, the number of designated registration counters has been increased to 121 from last year’s 103.
In order to ensure “effective” security to the devotees, no pilgrim will be allowed to enter or proceed beyond the base camps unless possessing a valid yatra permit for a specified date and route. Mr Goyal appealed to all intending pilgrims to complete the necessary formalities for registration and obtain this requisite permit on time “in their own interest and to ensure they do not face inconvenience.
Links:
[1] http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com