The registration for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir commenced across the country on Monday with enthusiastic pilgrims making a beeline for designated bank branches to secure a permit for undertaking the journey.

The 43-day yatra is scheduled to start on June 30 after the coronavirus pandemic enforced a break of two years. The journey will begin from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-km from Nunwan to the cave shrine from Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. The government, this year, is also introducing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for pilgrims to track their movement en-route to ensure their well-being. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the annual pilgrimage, has designated 566 branches across the country for the registration of the pilgrims, in addition to the facility on its website.