Amarnath Yatra 2021: Registration to begin from April 1

The process of registration for Amarnath yatra 2021 is going to commence from April 1, simultaneously for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, through 446 designated branches of Punjab National Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank and Yes Bank all over the country.

The 56-day-long annual yatra to 3,888-metre-high Amarnathji cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas will begin on June 28 and would conclude on August 22, the day of Raksha Bandhan.

“Pilgrims who wish to undertake this year’s pilgrimage can register themselves from registration counters located all across the country through 446 designated bank branches spread over all the country,” an official spokesman said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Nitishwar Kumar, informed that the step-by-step procedure, application form and state-wise list of bank branches with complete addresses are available at the Board’s website. He said that for ensuring against fraudulent health certificates, only such certificates which are issued by doctors/medical institutes authorised by the concerned governments shall be accepted at the registered bank branches.

“For Yatra 2021, only those health certificates which have been issued after March 15, 2021, shall be valid. The steps which yatris need to follow in order to register for the Yatra have been put on the Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. It also contains relevant information on how to reach the Base Camps, fee for yatra registration, the tariff for ponies, palanquin and porters,” the CEO said.

Persons under the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years and ladies who are more than six weeks pregnant cannot register for this year’s pilgrimage.

Kumar stressed that, for ensuring effective security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those pilgrims who are in possession of a Yatra Permit, which is valid for a specified date and route, will be allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps, and cross the entry gates at Domel and Chandanwari.

Pilgrims who propose to travel by helicopter do not require advance registration as their helicopter tickets shall suffice for this purpose. However, they shall be required to produce the Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) in the prescribed format issued by an authorised doctor, before they are allowed to travel by helicopter.

Yatris are usually asked to take precautions for high altitude sickness with symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, lightheadedness and difficulty in sleeping and tightness in the chest as the pilgrimage to the Holy Cave involves trekking at altitudes as high as 14,000 feet.