Jammu Kashmir: The registration for 62-day-long Shri Amarnathji Yatra in Jammu & Kashmir has commenced today, April 17. The Union Territory government announced that the Yatra will begin on July 1st 2023, and end on August 31.

Both the Pahalgam track in the Anantnag district and the Baltal track in the Ganderbal district have begun accepting registrations. Both offline and online registration are now open. The offline registration is available at 542 bank locations countrywide, including 316 Punjab National Bank locations, 90 J-K locations, 37 Yes Bank locations, and 99 SBI Bank locations, according to the officials. A new registration feature this year is Aadhar-based registration, which requires a thumb scan of the pilgrim to be registered.

As per rules, anyone between the ages of 13 and 70 can sign up for the Amarnathji Yatra in 2023, and a health certificate is required for every trip. The yatra is not open to women who are six weeks or more pregnant.
Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, stated that the administration is dedicated to ensuring a successful and trouble-free pilgrimage on March 14 when announcing the dates for the sacred pilgrimage.

The foremost objective for Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is a hassle-free pilgrimage. All the travelling devotees and service providers will receive top-notch medical care and other necessities from the administration. Prior to the start of the Pilgrimage, telecom services will be operational. To provide accommodations for housing, power, water, security, and other arrangements for the successful execution of the Yatra, all stakeholder departments are collaborating, according to LG Sinha.

The Lt. Governor also gave instructions to the officials to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and to implement the appropriate sanitation and waste management measures.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will also make the morning and evening Aarti (Prayers) live-streamable for devotees all over the world. The Google Play store now offers the Shri Amarnathji Yatra's App, allowing users to get real-time weather updates, information on the Yatra, and access to a number of online services, according to a statement from the government.

The journey to Jammu and Kashmir's Amarnath Gupha, a sacred site for Hindus, is defined by piety, religious tolerance, and brotherhood. An ancient "Linga" of Lord Shiva is located inside the Amarnath Gupha. For darshan, pilgrims travel from all around India. Hindus consider this to be Lord Shiva's residence, and it is situated 168 kilometres from the district office in the Anantnag district.

Gupha, which is 12,756 feet above sea level and is situated 141 km from Srinagar, the capital, sits in the Ladar Valley, which is typically covered in glaciers and snow-capped mountains.

Only a brief period in the summer permits regular pilgrims to visit here for darshan. There are two primary routes to get there: one goes past the town of Pahalgam, and the other goes via Sonawar, a well-known tourist destination in the Ganderbal area, on the way to Baltal.

From the base camps at Chandiwadi and Noonan in Pahalgam, a 43-km hill trek begins. Some individuals also choose to travel the distance on horses or palanquins. The 16 km from Bal Tal path is the shortest, but it's also the most difficult.

Before 1990, only sadhus and saints were allowed to visit the pilgrimage since it was so exclusive. The journey lasted 20 days in 1995. Its duration was extended to two months from 2004 to 2009. The trip now lasts between July and August for 40 and 45 days.