Amarnath Yatra: registration, Pahalgam and Baltal routes, fitness
Plan the Amarnath Yatra: advance registration, compulsory health certificate, the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, helicopter, what to carry and timing.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
About the yatra
The holy cave of Amarnath sits at about 3,880 m in the mountains of Kashmir. Each summer an ice lingam forms inside the cave, worshipped as Shiva. The yatra runs for about six to eight weeks in July and August, ending on Raksha Bandhan, Shravan Purnima. Security and logistics are organised by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board with the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
Registration
- Registration opens in spring, usually in April, through designated bank branches and the Shrine Board website, jksasb.nic.in
- Every pilgrim needs a Compulsory Health Certificate from an authorised doctor
- Pilgrims between 13 and 70 years are allowed. Women more than six weeks pregnant are not
- Each registration carries a date and route. Travel on the date you registered for
Carry the yatra permit and RFID card issued at the base camps.
Two routes
- Pahalgam route: from Nunwan or Chandanwari, about 36 km to 48 km over three to four days via Sheshnag and Panchtarni. Gentler gradients, longer walk, finer scenery
- Baltal route: about 14 km each way from Baltal near Sonamarg. Steep and narrow, but most pilgrims return the same day
Ponies and palkis operate on both routes at fixed rates.
Helicopter
Helicopters fly from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panchtarni, about 6 km from the cave. Book only through the Shrine Board’s official helicopter booking. Weather cancels flights often, so keep a spare day.
Fitness and altitude
Walk 4 to 5 km a day for a month before the yatra, with deep breathing and yoga. Carry your medicines and stop at medical camps if you feel unwell. Breathlessness, headache and nausea are warning signs. Descend if they worsen.
What to carry
- Woollen clothes, a raincoat, waterproof shoes and a walking stick
- Torch, water bottle, dry fruits and glucose
- ID, yatra permit and health certificate
- Small backpack only. Large bags slow you down on narrow paths
Langars run by service groups serve free meals all along the routes.
Combine with Kashmir
Pilgrims often stay in Srinagar before or after the yatra and visit Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam. We book hotels, cars between Jammu or Srinagar and the base camps, and flights. The yatra itself is run by the Shrine Board, and we work around its schedule.
Practical tips
- Arrive at the base camp the evening before your registered date
- Follow the convoy timings set by the authorities
- Keep cash, since networks are weak
- Only postpaid SIM cards from outside Jammu and Kashmir work
Tell us your registered date and route. We send a hotel and transport plan within 24 hours on working days.
