Amarnath Yatra update: Online helicopter booking starts; check fare and other details

As per the latest development, online booking for helicopter services for this year's Amarnath Yatra has started. To facilitate this process, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has introduced this facility for both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes for the 52-day long pilgrimage, which starts on June 29.

As per a statement from SASB, the annual Amarnath pilgrimage will begin on June 29 and conclude on August 19, which will coincide with the Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima festivals. The helicopter services for the north Kashmir Baltal route will operate on the Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath sector, whereas for the Pahalgam route, services will be available on the Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam sector.
Read more: How to get the best of Munnar this summer?

Officials have highlighted that the online booking for helicopter services can be done through the official website JKSASB.nic.in. They emphasised that no offline tickets or priority bookings will be available. Therefore, bookings will be on a first-come, first-served basis and will be directly provided to the devotees. The fare for a one-way trip from Pahalgam to Panjtarni is set at INR 4,900, with a round trip costing INR 9,800. For the Neelgrath to Panjtarni route, the one-way fare is INR 3,250, and the round trip costs INR 6,500.

The journey from the Panjtarni helipad to the holy cave and back is time-consuming. As such, available slots for pilgrims will have a gap of at least 5 to 6 hours between trips. Pilgrims are required to carry an original photo identity card and a health certificate during the journey. They must also arrive at their respective helipads at least 30 minutes before their booked time slot.

Read more: World’s 5 most overhyped tourist destinations

Charter bookings are permitted exclusively for travel between Srinagar and Neelgrath, with priority seating on the connecting service between Neelgrath and Panjtarni. This will ensure a streamlined and efficient experience for pilgrims opting for charter services.

Preparations for the pilgrimage are progressing smoothly. Advance registration for pilgrims began on April 15, and this year, 125 langars (community kitchens) have been authorised up to the holy cave to provide food and refreshments to the devotees.

Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, during his visit to Katra on May 16, encouraged devotees to act as messengers, spreading the message of Lord Shiva. This year's pilgrimage is expected to see a significant number of devotees, and the SASB is committed to ensuring a safe and well-organised yatra for all participants.