The Amarnath Yatra is an annual event, organised by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. It is organised during the holy Hindu month of Shravan (July and August). The dates are not fixed and vary every year depending upon the full moon night or purnima. Taking the yatra is a kind of risk, but is also very thrilling and fulfilling. The physical location of the cave requires lot of effort to reach the cave, however it is nothing for the pilgrims who are driven by their faith and belief in their god. The surroundings in and around the cave is like a paradise which makes you feel much closer to God. The climate is very cold. Rain and snowfall are frequent, thus the pilgrims are advised to make necessary arrangements accordingly. The temperature may fall at -5 degrees sometimes. Hence a lot of preparations have to be made before anyone undertakes the yatra.
It is mandatory for all the pilgrims to get registered before taking the yatra. The registration can be done in any of the tourist offices of Jammu and Kashmir government located in all the major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jammu, and Srinagar etc. Free food and accommodation is provided by the government to all the registered devotees. Sometimes a nominal fee is charged for accommodation. Besides the government, many other charitable organisations also provide food and accommodation to the devotees. The yatra is either undertaken on foot, or on buses and hired taxis, but vehicles go only upto certain point and not till the cave. Most of the yatra has to be completed on foot. One has to first reach Jammu or Pahalgam to begin the holy yatra. Since the yatra is physically taxing the pilgrims need to be physically fit and need a produce a medical certificate validating the same. They are advised to carry warm woollens, rain coats, medical kits and other things to protect themselves from various hazards.