This year’s Amarnath Yatra has officially begun today, June 28, 2018.
The first batch of pilgrims have started their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar Camp in Jammu on June 27 and they will move further to the cave shrine from Baltal and Pahalgam routes on June 28.
A total of 1,904 pilgrims including 330 women and 30 children were part of this batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
All you need to know about Amarnath Yatra 2018
Dates: The Yatra began today (June 28) and will conclude on August 26.
Route: The journey starts from Srinagar or Pahalgam on-foot and take one of the following two routes.
The Short Route: The shorter but steeper trek via Baltal, Domial, Barari and Sangam is 14 km long and a round trip takes 1-2 days to complete.
The Long Route: The longer Amarnath yatra route via Pahalgam is 36 to 48 km long. This trek usually takes 3-5 days one way.
Registration process: Registration and issue of the ‘Yatra Permit’ is done on first-come-first-served basis.
Travellers can get themselves registered at 440 designated bank branches of the Punjab National Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank and YES Bank in 32 states and Union Territories across India.
Security Arrangements: Over 40,000 armed CRPF and state police personnel have been employed to provide security across all yatra routes.
Bike and bullet-proof SUV police convoys and bullet-proof bunkers have been deployed as part of the “biggest-ever” security blanket thrown to secure pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra this year.
