Year 2003
Advance Registration Begins:June 16
Advance Registration Closes: June 28
Yatra Begins from Jammu: July 9; Last convoy leaves Jammu: August 9
Darshan: July 12 to August 12

          (CAUTION: One has to prepare in advance for the Amarnath pilgrimage. To start with, go in for a primary but thorough medical check-up. This will make you sure of your physical and mental fitness to undertake trekking along harduous routes up to a height of 14,000 plus feet. A formal medical certificate will have to be obtained before the yatra for the purpose of registration.)

          The Amarnath yatra is conducted by the government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir during July-August every year. Advance registration of pilgrims used to be done at the state government's tourist offices in Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad or at other places the Government finds suitable. In 2002 it was done only through the branches of the Jammu and Kashmir bank throughout the country. This system is followed in 2003 too. Current registration used to be made at the J-K Tourist Reception Centres at Jammu and Srinagar and the J-K tourist offfices at Srinagar airport, Pahalgam and Sonamarg from a date in July till the end of the yatra. But the current registration system has been stopped since 2002 for security reasons.

           In case of advance registration, application in the prescribed format should be sent alongwith two passport size photographs, a self-addressed stamped envelope for speed post and a medical fitness certificate from a doctor to the nearest registration office. This has to be done when the Amarnath yatra is notified by the Government in the newspapers in the month of June. Each yatri has to submit a separate application for registration.

          Once registered, each yatri will be issued a registration-cum-identity slip which should be carried all along the Amarnath yatra. The date for darshan is allotted on first-come-first-served basis. Only 2,500 pilgrims are allowed to proceed to the cave on a day. Yatris should reach Jammu five days prior to the allotted date of darshan and should reach Pahalgam base camp four days in advance, and in case of Baltal three days in advance. From Sonamarg, it takes two days to reach the holy Amarnath cave and return.

           In view of the risk involved in the Amarnath yatra, pilgrims should insure themselves before starting their yatra. A new insurance scheme has been introduced.(SEE NEWS).Tented accommodation is available at the places of halt. Beddings are supplied. These are run by the J and K Tourism Development Corporation as well as private parties and can be booked at the base camps. Rates are fixed by the Government. Telecom facilities like PCOs are usually arranged at transit points. Women should wear pants/salwar, no saris