Amarnath Yatra - How strict are the rules

So I have done a registration for 10th July but if I want to do the darshan on say 7th or 9th, would that be allowed?
Secondly, I have heard that they are allowing people to do the yatra even if they haven't done the pre requisite registration. Is this true?
Thirdly, I am planning to drive from Delhi. Can I drive from Jammu to Baltal in one day? How early should I start? Are the roads in good shape?
Fourthly, 50% of helicopter booking is reserved for current booking. Is there some kind of tout scam involved or would I be able to book the helicopter with ease on same day?
Please advice?

Date of Registration means the date on which you should start your yatra from either Nunwan or Baltal basecamp. Generally they do not permit yatra prior to prescribed date. But may occupy you on special request.
Generally they do not do. And it is also not in the interest of yatris. If you are not registered, you may do online registration also. It would be covering insurance also.
You may drive but you would be very tired at the end of day. If you join the convoy from Jammu Base camp (which starts at 4 AM), you would be reaching Baltal around 7:30 PM
We would appreciate, if you could share your experience with us, so that we could plan accordingly in future.

Thanks a ton! I tried to search for more details on convoy from Jammu to Baltal, but couldn't find any details. Do I need to make reservations/registration or pay in advance? Where do the bus start? Can I find hotel near that point as you mentioned bus starts at 4am so I would prefer to stay near the bus starting point?

You would be required to report at Yatri Niwas at Bagwatinagar camp, Jammu latest by 03:30 AM. The convoy starts from there.

Security check of your vehicle would take place and a sticker would be put on your vehicle.

Now you are a part of the convoy. You would not be required to pay any fee for joining it.

If you wish to go by bus, you will have to follow the same procedure. Only thing once inside the camp you would be reporting at Reservation counter to purchase ticket of the bus.

Few more questions -
1. If I were to book a taxi like Indica what would be the cost of hiring it from Jammu to Baltal? Should I book one side or both ways? Should I book in advance or will they be available at Yatri niwas or Railway station?
2. Should I book the room in Yatri niwas in advance or will it be available on arrival? What other hotels are recommended?
3. Any recommendation on taxi driver?

All the bookings at Yatri Niwas is always done on arrival!

No idea of taxi fare!

So this is what I did -
1. No doctor in my neighborhood was willing to sign the medical certificate - some gave reasons like go to a hospital or some said first get all tests done from my testing lab or some just out rightly refused. So I went to Saket where driving licence is made and there is a doc who signs off for driving licence. He charged Rs 100 per form and I got the certificate for myself and my mom.
Note: At Baltal, there was a medical camp where one can get a medical certificate.
2. I did the registration online. The first available date was 17th July for 2 people. So I paid Rs 30 and did registration for both. Then I tried for one person and I found a slot for 16th and I went ahead and did registration for myself.
Note: Registrations were being done at Baltal. No need for prior registrations.
Note: Date on the registration form doesn't matter.
Note: Nobody even checked my form!!
3. I did some research and found that it would take at least 1.5 days to reach Baltal from Jammu, even though the distance is not that much. So accordingly, I did tatkal booking on 12th July for Jammu Rajdhani for 13th July. Since Tatkal rules had just changed, I got the tickets easily.
4. On 14th July, we reached Jammu at 5.44am.
(a)We went to 2nd AC waiting room to take a bath. The waiting room was over crowded. Bathroom had no water. Toilet had a long que. I just brushed my teeth and washed my face with bisleri water. I didnt even change my clothes.
(b) We came to taxi stand and shared taxi (Sumo/Tavera) to Srinagar was available for Rs 700 per head. We wanted middle seats for our self and it took us time as they wait for the first car to get filled. They fill 2 ppl in front, 3 in middle and 2 in back. Finally we left in Sumo at around 7.30am. The driver would promise to reach Srinagar in 8 hrs with a disclaimer of traffic jams, but in truth it takes at least 10 hrs to Reach Srinagar from Jammu. Also, the rates are high at Rs 700 only because of Yatra season otherwise, it costs Rs 200-300 per head.
(c) We stopped for breakfast and lunch (Rajma chawal and ghee) and finally reached Srinagar at 6.15pm. There was heavy traffic on the highway. We were dropped at Tourist Reception Center (TRC).
(d) Many touts are available at TRC who will take you to different hotels. We checked one room in a boat on river near TRC. It was extremely bad, eventually we liked a hotel room for Rs 1000 per night. It was raining through the day.
(e) I asked the hotel owner if he knew an agent who could book helicopter from Baltal to Panchtarni for us. He called a person who offered us a "package" of Rs 26000 which included travel to Baltal and back in non sharing taxi, Helicopter fare, and tent. I found it to be extremely expensive so I refused his offer. He also said that the prices would be even higher once I reached Baltal.
5. On 15th July, after breakfast, we left for TRC at 8.15-8.30am. (a) Our original plan was to take a shared cab to Sonamarg and spend couple of hrs there and then head out to Baltal. We found a shared taxi (Tavera) for Baltal for Rs 350 per head. We left around 9.15am. We stopped at Sonamarg for lunch. We decided to go straight to Baltal and check out helicopter booking arrangement.
(b) The CRPF checking point opens every luggage and takes out items they don't approve. In my case they took away my scissors and told me to collect it on the way back. On the way back I found they had trunk full of scissors and they hadn't done nay tagging or day wise separation. It was just impossible to find your own items there!!
(c) At around 2.30pm we reached Baltal gate no 1 and it started to rain. I checked out few tents, I was trying to book a small tent so that we wouldn't have to share. Finally I found a tent with 2 folding bed for Rs 500 per day.
Note: Shrine board has allowed the tents to be erected at base of hill and toilets at top of the hill. It is extremely uncomfortable to go to loo specially for senior citizen. Also the toilets are inadequate for the no of ppl that visit. They don't close from inside . After the rains the mud is slippery and it is insane to go to top of hill in that situation. To top that it is extremely dirty!!!!
(d) I went to helipad to check helicopter booking. I found out there was a long line of people waiting for current booking as well as taking no for next day. I met ppl from the train and rest is for next post....

1. I had inquired with the tent owner about the palki and the cost. He told me that Palkies are extremely expensive and charge as high as 10000. I asked when the govt rate is 7800 how can they ask for more, he simply smiled. He said palki walas will come back after 6pm and then he will introduce us to them.
2. My train friend claimed to know a person (let's call him "A") who had contacts. We met him and he suggestion was - to stand in line of helicopter booking at 3am (when the counter opens at 6am)!! He claimed this will ensure that we will get the ticket in current booking. When we looked at him with strangeness on our face, he said people come to the counter even before that . He said the same thing for palki that they are expensive and we will get exact quote after 6pm. He also said very important thing - palki walas are not interested in ferrying fat/obese people and prices go up for them. In his words - Boli lagti hai.
3. My mom and I went for a stroll to langars. Enroute a palki wala approached us. I asked him rate of only one palki for my mom. He asked for 15000. I was shocked. I tried to bargain and he finally came to 14000. Hahahaha!!! He warned me that if I didnt book someone, by next morning rates will touch 20000.
4. My friends brought a person to our tent who was asking for 13000 per palki.
5. At around 6pm, my tent wala brought a palki wala. He started by asking for 10000, we negotiated and he finally settled for 9000 per palki. Let's call him "B". He promised to come back by 7-7.30pm to give us his I-card to seal the deal.
6. At 7.30pm, "B" came back and said that he has only one palki now and he will take my friend. He left me and my mom. All of sudden, it became clear that "A" was right that obese people are of no interest to palki walas. I went back and complained to my tentwala.
Note: Tentwalas have a commission with Palkiwala.
7. Now that our deal was off, Tentwalas commission also went away. He became furious and went and fought with "B".
8. Meanwhile "A" brought a palki wala who asked for 12000 per person. Since we had a card of 9000, we refused him.
9. Now that tent wala and "B" were fighting, "A" jumped in the fight since his commission also had been cancelled. He asked my friends to return "B" I card. Which we did.
10. So now at 9pm, we have no palki. "A" kept making promises that he will provide. Finally, he gave a quote of 10000 for my friend and me and 12000 for my mom. I even agreed to this. He left at 10-10.30pm and said he will confirm at 11.30pm.
11. I went to my tent at 11pm. I asked my tent wala to help. He said he could help, if I left my friends out of the deal. The issue was of commission sharing between tent walas (my friends were in different tents). By this time, my friends were talking of taking a helicopter since palki was coming to be too expensive. I agreed to the demand.
11. I also called "A" who said that he was talking to the palki wala and will call me in 10 mins. He never called back!!!
12. Tent wala brought a person "C". He asked for a total cost of 26000 for 2 people. I offered 21000. Finally we agreed on 22000 plus food for the palki walas en route. It was around midnight and I was relieved that I had 2 I cards. I had to get up at 2.30am to get ready....