Amarnath Yatra 2026: Registration for the annual Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir began on Wednesday. The Punjab National Bank, which acts as the nodal bank for the yatra, said a large number of devotees are already thronging the counters set up for the pilgrimage.
Pre-registration is open in both online and offline mode.
When will Amarnath yatra 2026 start?
The 57-day Amarnath yatra 2026 will start from two routes, the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal, on July 3rd and will end on Raksha Bandhan on August 28.
Read also | Amarnath Yatra 2026 Dates Announced: The pilgrimage will begin on July 3
Long queues at PNB Jammu branch
“Registration for Amarnath Yatra has started. There is a big rush as pilgrims are coming to register. It has been opened in both online and offline mode,” Punjab National Bank Jammu Circle Director, DGM Pankaj Kumar Verma told PTI.
Six counters are set up in Jammu,” he added.
Offline branches in Jammu, including those of JK Bank and PNB, witnessed long queues from 8 am as devotees stood for an hour before the registration process began.
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Devotees line up to register for the yatra
“I came early this morning to register. This will be my second yatra,” Jammu resident Yamni Sharma told PTI that she wanted to be among the first to pay obeisance at the cave shrine.
He completes the yatra via Pahalgam with his parents, sister and brother.
Yamini also told PTI that there has been a huge improvement in facilities and normalcy prevails in Kashmir, so more Hindus should come and pay obeisance.
Vinood Kumar, who had come from Pathankot in Punjab to register at the PNB branch in Rehari Colony, said this was the eleventh time he was undertaking the yatra.
“For the past many years, we have always paid obeisance at the cave shrine in the first batch. This year too, we have signed up for the pilgrimage,” he said.
“Our message to all devotees is to come and pay obeisance and seek blessings. For us, this yatra is in our annual calendar,” he said.
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PNB expects an increase in registrations
The PNB DGM said that as the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly, support from banks has also increased.
“We anticipate that the number of people will continue to grow. Accordingly, we are assessing how we could further simplify and facilitate the bank registration process,” he added.
Across India, 556 bank branches are involved in the registration process, out of which 310 branches of the Punjab National Bank are participating.
Offline registration can be done at 556 bank branches across the country, including 310 branches of Punjab National Bank, 90 branches of J&K Bank, 37 branches of Yes Bank and 99 branches of SBI, among others, officials said.
