The much-anticipated Amarnath Yatra 2023, a revered pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave nestled in the southern Himalayas of Kashmir, is slated to commence on July 1, 2023. This annual spiritual journey, known as the Amarnath Yatra 2023, draws devotees from across the globe, who embark on this trek to pay homage to Lord Shiva, represented by a naturally formed ice stalagmite Lingam within the Holy Cave Shrine. The 62-day pilgrimage will commence on July 1 and conclude on August 31.
Registrations for the Amarnath Yatra 2023 began on April 17, 2023. The schedule for the Amarnath Yatra is traditionally aligned with the auspicious day of Skandshasthi according to the Hindu calendar and concludes on Shravan Purnima, also known as Raksha Bandhan. The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), established by the Jammu & Kashmir State Legislature in 2000, manages the Holy Cave Shrine. The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir serves as its ex-officio Chairman.
To facilitate a seamless and organized pilgrimage, the SASB has instituted a systematic registration procedure for the Amarnath Yatra 2023. Last year, the board introduced “Group Registration” to aid the registration of pilgrims wishing to travel together as a group. Detailed guidelines for group registration have been issued by the SASB.
Recognizing the significant number of devotees residing abroad who undertake this annual pilgrimage, the SASB has established a special mechanism to enable the registration of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and ex-India pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra 2023. The exact schedule and duration of the Yatra are determined by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’s sub-committee, considering factors such as the Hindu calendar, weather conditions, and the clearance of the trek from snow.
Pilgrims have the option to choose between two routes: the longer 48-kilometer Nunwan route from Pahalgam and the shorter 14-kilometer Baltal route from Ganderbal. The first group of pilgrims will depart from Jammu on June 30 and travel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway to reach their base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal.
To ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims, the SASB has determined that a maximum of 7,500 pilgrims per day per route will be allowed to register for the Amarnath Yatra 2023. This does not include yatris (pilgrims) who will be traveling by helicopter on either route to Panjtarni. Consequently, both the Pahalgam-Chandanwari Track and Sonamarg-Baltal Track will accommodate 7,500 registered yatris per day during the scheduled Amarnath Yatra for 2023.
Two days ahead of the start of the annual Amarnath Yatra, a mock drill was conducted from Jammu to Banihal to test the security arrangements. The drill involved sending a Yatra convoy under security, and officials inspected all the arrangements to ensure their effectiveness. ADGP Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar visited Anantnag district in South Kashmir the day before to assess the security measures in place for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. His visit aimed to evaluate the preparations and provide necessary guidance to the officers involved.
Emphasizing the importance of public safety, ADGP Vijay Kumar highlighted the need to prioritize the well-being of pilgrims and Two days ahead of the start of the annual Amarnath Yatra, a mock drill was conducted from Jammu to Banihal to test the security arrangements. The drill involved sending a Yatra convoy under security, and officials inspected all the arrangements to ensure their effectiveness. ADGP Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar visited Anantnag district in South Kashmir the day before to assess the security measures in place for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. His visit aimed to evaluate the preparations and provide necessary guidance to the officers involved.
Emphasizing the importance of public safety, ADGP Vijay Kumar highlighted the need to prioritize the well-being of pilgrims and the general public throughout the Yatra. He directed the officers to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to guarantee a secure and hassle-free experience for the pilgrim.
