Jammu, Feb 9 (PTI) The annual pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine will begin on July one, official sources said today.

The two-month pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas would continue till August 24 - the day of Shravan Purnima/Raksha Bandha, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, R K Goyal, told PTI.

A Board meeting chaired by state Governor N N Vohra in New Delhi today also directed the CEO to timely commence the registration of pilgrims to ensure effective management of the Yatra.

The SASB also expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the yatra during 2009 and particularly those for environmental protection.

The Board desired that these measures should be upgraded before pilgrimage season this year, a Board spokesman said.