Amarnath Yatra for the year 2014 is likely to commence from Mid June. The Dates and Schedule for Yatra would be announced in January according to sources. Â The Online Registration for Yatra would commence from March 2014, while the Helicopter Services would be available for booking in April. The exact dates would be known once the schedule gets announced.
In 2013, over 3.54 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance to the holy Amarnath Cave in 55 day long Yatra which commenced on June 28 and finished on August 21Â simultaneously from the Baltal and Pahalgam Base Camps.
Statistics shows that a total of 13 people had lost their lives during this Yatra, Â compared to 93 in 2012 and 106 in 2011 which had pilgrimage of 6.21 lakh and 6.35 lakh, respectively. The Low Mortality Rate was due to several preventive measures including demand of Compulsory Health Certificates from Pilgrims, on the direction of Hon’ Supreme Court of India.
However 2013 saw more than 50% drop in terms of number of Pilgrims registering for the Holy Yatra. According to Navin Choudhary, the CEO of Sri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the less turnout of Pilgrims was due to the Uttarakhand Disaster in June 2013, which took away over 1000 lives and property worth Billions was destroyed.
In 2013, Registration was done through  through 422 outlets throughout the country.  The Registration was also felicitated by  121 Branches of J&K Bank, 50 Branches of YES Bank, 101 Branches of State Bank of India, 100 Branches of Punjab National Bank and 50 Branches of HDFC Bank, across the country.