Vaishno Devi yatra
The Vaishno Devi yatra, planned step by step.
Katra is the base. Every yatri registers for a free RFID card, crosses the Banganga check post and climbs to the Bhawan in the Trikuta hills, on foot, by pony or palki, or by helicopter to Sanjichhat. Here is how each part works.
Base town
Katra, Reasi district
The climb
About 13 km, Banganga to the Bhawan
Bhawan
About 5,200 ft (1,585 m)
Registration
Free RFID card, for every yatri
The short answer
Reach Katra, register, then climb from Banganga.
Get to Katra by train (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station, SVDK) or by road from Jammu, about 1.5 hours. Register at the Yatra Registration Counter near the Katra bus stand, or online, and collect an RFID Yatra Access Card for each person. Registration is free. The card is checked at Banganga, where the walk of about 13 km to the Bhawan begins. Ponies, palkis and pithus work the route at fixed rates, and helicopters fly from Katra to Sanjichhat. After darshan, many yatris continue to the Bhairon temple; a ropeway runs there from the Bhawan.
By Shahid Parvez Khan (Local Operations Lead)·Published by Falcon Trails·Updated
The yatra in six steps
1
Get to Katra
By train to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK), or fly or take the train to Jammu and drive about 1.5 hours. See Katra railway station.
2
Register and collect your RFID card
Free, at the counter near the Katra bus stand or online. Every yatri needs their own card, and the card has a time limit. See registration.
3
Cross the Banganga check post
About 1.5 km from the main registration counter. Yatris without a valid card are turned back here.
4
Climb to the Bhawan
About 13 km on foot, or by pony, palki or pithu. Adhkuwari is the main stop on the way. See the trek route.
5
Darshan, then Bhairon
After darshan at the Bhawan, the Bhairon temple is above it. The ropeway from the Bhawan runs 9 am to 5 pm.
6
Back to Katra
The same way down, or a helicopter from Sanjichhat if you booked one. See the helicopter.
Ways up: walk, pony, palki, battery car or helicopter
| Option | How it works | Book |
|---|---|---|
| On foot | About 13 km from Banganga, with Adhkuwari as the main stop | Registration only |
| Pony, palki or pithu | Registered operators with ID tokens; fixed rates on signboards and at assistance counters | At Katra or Banganga, at the posted rate |
| Battery car | Runs on part of the route | Ask at the Shrine Board counters |
| Helicopter | Katra to Sanjichhat, then on to the Bhawan | Online, on the Shrine Board booking site |
The Shrine Board publishes no pony, palki or pithu rates online. Pay only the rate on the signboard, and only to an operator showing an ID token.
When to go
The yatra runs all year. Navratri and the summer holidays bring the biggest crowds and the longest queues; see Vaishno Devi tour packages for planning around them.
Winter is colder on the climb, so carry warm layers for the evening at the Bhawan.
Every part of the yatra, in detail
- Yatra registration and the RFID card: free, required, and time-limited.
- The trek route: distance, altitude, Adhkuwari, Bhairon and the ropeway.
- The helicopter: the fare reported from 1 November 2026 and how booking works.
- Where to stay: Shrine Board rooms in Jammu, Katra and on the route, and Katra hotels.
- Katra railway station: trains from Delhi and on to Srinagar.
- Katra and Patnitop: the base town and the trips from it.
Compare your starting options
Catalogue starting prices for land arrangements on twin-sharing, excluding flights. The two-adult figure is twice the per-person baseline, not a confirmed quote. Dates, room category and availability can change the total. Ask for named hotels, taxes, child charges and local sightseeing extras in writing.
| Itinerary | Duration | Route | Per adult from | Two adults from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaishno Devi Yatra | 2 nights / 3 days | Jammu → Katra → Bhawan | ₹6,500 | ₹13,000 |
| Vaishno Devi by Helicopter | 1 night / 2 days | Jammu → Katra → Sanjichhat → Bhawan | On request | On request |
| Vaishno Devi, Shiv Khori and Patnitop | 4 nights / 5 days | Jammu → Katra → Bhawan → Shiv Khori → Patnitop | On request | On request |
| Vaishno Devi and Kashmir from Jammu | 7 nights / 8 days | Jammu → Katra → Srinagar → Gulmarg → Pahalgam | On request | On request |
Editorial & Ground Verification
Published by local travel planners
Published by Shahid Parvez Khan
Founder & Lead Planner, Falcon Trails · Operating Kashmir mountain routes since 2010 · shahid.co.in
Published by our operations desk in Barbarshah / Munawara Abad, Srinagar. This guide supports planning; it is not a live status feed. Confirm mountain access, taxi charges and hotel heating for your exact dates before committing.
Ground Dispatch & Preferred Source
Ask our Srinagar desk about your proposed route, and check current official road and weather advice before travel.
Learn more about our team on the About page or contact our desk.
Content updated:
Questions
What people ask us.
Is there a ticket for Vaishno Devi darshan?
No. Registration is free and every yatri gets an RFID Yatra Access Card. You pay only for what you use: a helicopter, pony, palki or a room.
How far is the Bhawan from Katra?
About 13 km from Banganga, where the walk starts. The Bhawan is at about 5,200 ft (1,585 m).
Can we combine Vaishno Devi with Kashmir?
Yes. The Vande Bharat train from Katra reaches Srinagar in about 3 hours. See Kashmir tour with Vaishno Devi.
Is the yatra possible for elderly parents?
Yes, with planning: a palki or pony for the climb, or the helicopter to Sanjichhat if it can be booked, and a room close to the Katra registration counter.
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