Ultimate Guide On Amarnath Yatra: Online/Offline Registration, Do’s And Don’ts During Yatra & More

The registrations for the Amarnath Yatra 2025 have begun. As per the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the pilgrimage will be held between July 3 and August 9 this year. Devotees can register for the pilgrimage both online and offline. Every year, the shrine opens for a limited time and devotees from all over the world come to seek blessings from Lord Shiva at the Amarnath Cave Temple in Jammu and Kashmir. If you are planning a yatra this year, then here’s the ultimate guide on Amarnath Yatra.

Significance Of The Amarnath Shrine

According to Hindu belief, Lord Shiva narrated the secret of immortality to Goddess Parvati at the present-day Amarnath Temple. Since the secret could not be heard by everyone, they travelled to this remote cave in Jammu and Kashmir. As the ‘amar katha’, the tale of immortality, was revealed here, the cave was called Amarnath.

Despite all the precautions to avoid anyone else hearing this tale, it is believed that two pigeons overheard the story, and became immortal. Even today, devotees who spot pigeons at the shrine are considered blessed. It is also notable that the ‘shiva linga’ at Amarnath is considered swayambhu. This means it manifested on its own and wasn’t placed there by human hands.

Amarnath Yatra is considered auspicious among Hindus. Pilgrims visit the holy cave around the festival of Shravani Mela in July–August. It also coincides with the Hindu holy month of Shravana. The year’s yatra starts on June 29 and will conclude on August 19, on the day of Shravan Purnima.

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Online Registration Of The Yatra

To register online for the Amarnath Yatra, you can visit the official Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) website. Here’s what you need to do –

1. Click on ‘Online Services’ on the website.
2. Go to ‘Yatra Permit Registration’ from the dropdown.
3. Go through all the guidelines, and then select ‘I Agree’, followed by clicking on ‘Register.’
4. Fill in all the personal details like name, preferred yatra date, Aadhaar number and mobile number.
5. Upload all the required documents.
6. Once the mobile verification is complete, you will receive a payment link of about ₹220 (might differ).
7. Complete the payment and you can download the ‘Yatra Registration Permit’ directly from the portal.

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How To Apply For The Amarnath Yatra Offline

For offline registration, the Jammu and Kashmir government has allocated centres like Vaishnavi Dham, Panchayat Bhawan and Mahajan Hall. You can also register offline through over 540 authorised bank branches across India.

1. You have to visit one of the centres and collect a token slip, which is issued three days before your Amarnath Yatra date.
2. A day after receiving your token slip, you have to visit Saraswati Dham for your medical check-up and registration.
3. After that, you can collect your RFID card from the designated centre in Jammu on the same day and complete the formalities.

Do’s and Don’ts During The Pilgrimage

The Tourism Board of India has issued some guidelines that you should keep in mind during Amarnath Yatra –

1. Improve your physical well-being, with regular walks and jogs, at least a month before the yatra.
2. Children below 13 years and the elderly above 75 years should avoid this strenuous yatra.
3. Pack woollen and weather-appropriate clothes.
4. Carry light energy-boosting snacks handy with you.
5. Stay in a group, and keep information about your group in case you get separated from them.
6. Carry a first-aid kit.
7. Amarnath Yatra is a difficult trek, so don’t ignore warning signs marked at various places.
8. Don’t get tempted by the “shortcuts” on the way, as there are none.

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Food Items To Avoid During Amarnath Yatra

Keeping the challenges of the Amarnath Yatra in mind, the SASB has issued some guidelines on foods you should avoid eating during the difficult trek. This is mainly to ensure the health and safety of the devotees.

1. Fried foods like pooris, bhaturas, pizza, burgers, stuffed paranthas, dosa, fried roti, bread with butter, samosas, pakoras, fried dry fruits
2. Food items prepared with heavy cream,
3. Condiments like pickles, chutney, and fried papad due to their high sodium content.
4. Fast foods like chowmein, which are difficult to digest.
5. Sugary beverages like cold drinks and sodas.
6. Sweets and mithais like halwa, jalebi, gulab jamun, laddu, etc.
7. Snacks like chips, mathi, and namkeen mixtures.
8. All meat-based products, alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, gutka, and pan masalas are banned during the Amarnath Yatra.

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We hope this information was helpful to you all and will help you plan your Amarnath Yatra better.

Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr & Wikimedia Commons