The Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir will resume from August 16, nearly five months after it was suspended due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. 

The government has decided to open religious places or places of worship in the union territory.

However, the government has issued several guidelines for the pilgrims undertaking the yatra.

There shall be a ceiling of maximum 5000 pilgrims per day till 30th September 2020. 

Further, a maximum of 500 pilgrims per day will be permitted within this ceiling in a graded manner from outside Jammu & Kashmir.

Registration of pilgrims should be made only through online mode, in order to avoid any assembly of persons at current counters.

Children under the age of 10 will not be able to travel at present. 

All passengers will have to wear masks and a limited number of domestic devotees will be allowed to visit the shrine.

Travel will be closed at night and for the time being, there is a prohibition on the stay of the devotees at the Mata Bhavan. At present, devotees will also not be allowed to attend the 'Aarti' held in the morning.

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) facilities at multiple locations at the start of the yatra route could also be set up to randomly test and identify any potential carrier of infection.

Sanitization and hygiene of all toilet blocks, bathing ghats, guest houses, battery cars, Helicopters, Cable car shall be ensured.