With the 57-day Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage due to start on 3 July, Baramulla Police have imposed specific traffic restrictions on the popular Gulmarg–Srinagar resort corridor. From 30 June until the close of the yatra, no tourist vehicles will be permitted to travel from either direction after 17:00 hrs, ensuring the evening convoy of pilgrims can move without obstruction. Authorities say the rule is necessary because the winding mountain road doubles as an alternative evacuation route for yatra security convoys. Whether you're an overseas pilgrim sorting out an Indian visa or a domestic traveller looking for region-specific permits, VisaHQ can streamline all the paperwork online. Their platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets you check entry requirements, upload documents and track approvals, helping you focus on planning around local traffic advisories instead of embassy queues. Hoteliers have been asked to advise guests to schedule onward journeys before the cut-off or remain overnight. Travel industry implications: Tour operators running same-day ski or gondola excursions from Srinagar airport will need to adjust itineraries. Corporate groups using Gulmarg for off-sites may face surcharges for earlier transfers. Insurance providers recommend factoring in potential overnight stays for drivers caught by the curfew. The restriction complements wider Navyug-Tunnel cut-off timings and a no-fly zone for helicopters over both the Baltal and Pahalgam axes announced earlier this month. Traffic police have pledged real-time updates via X (Twitter) handles but warned that violators will be fined and turned back. Travellers should carry printed hotel bookings and allow extra time for security checkpoints along National Highway-44.
