Vaishno Devi · Katra
Katra, the base for Vaishno Devi, and the day trips from it.
Katra sits at the foot of the Trikuta hills in Reasi district. Most yatris see only the bus stand, the registration counter and the road to Banganga, but a spare day buys Patnitop, Shiv Khori or the Baba Dhansar waterfall.
District
Reasi, Jammu division
Railway
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK)
Patnitop
About 85 km, about 2,024 m
Baba Dhansar
About 13 to 15 km
The short answer
Stay near the bus stand for the yatra; keep a day for Patnitop.
Katra’s main Yatra Registration Counter and the Shrine Board’s Niharika complex are at the bus stand, and the Banganga check post, where the climb starts, is about 1.5 km away. The railway station (SVDK) is a taxi or auto ride from the bus stand. For a day after the yatra: Patnitop, a hill station at about 2,024 m on the Jammu–Srinagar highway, is about 85 km by road; the Shiv Khori cave temple is about 70 to 80 km; and Baba Dhansar, a Shiva shrine by a waterfall, is about 13 to 15 km.
By Shahid Parvez Khan (Local Operations Lead)·Published by Falcon Trails·Updated
Katra, in three places
- The bus stand: main Yatra Registration Counter, Niharika Yatri Niwas, Shakti and Ashirwad Bhawan.
- Udhampur road: the second bus stand and registration counter (YRC II), with Trikuta Bhawan nearby.
- Banganga: the check post where the climb begins, about 1.5 km from the main counter.
Day trips from Katra
| Place | Distance from Katra | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Baba Dhansar | About 13 to 15 km | A Shiva shrine by a waterfall |
| Shiv Khori | About 70 to 80 km | A cave temple with a natural Shiva lingam |
| Patnitop | About 85 km | Hill station at about 2,024 m on the Jammu–Srinagar highway |
| Sanasar | About 17 km beyond Patnitop | A meadow ringed by conifers |
| Nathatop | About 14 km beyond Patnitop | Views from above Patnitop |
Road times depend on traffic and the highway; we plan them around your yatra day, never before it.
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.
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Content updated:
Questions
What people ask us.
How far is Patnitop from Katra?
About 85 km by road. Patnitop is at about 2,024 m, on the Jammu–Srinagar highway.
Can we do Patnitop in a day from Katra?
Yes, as a full day out after the yatra. Add Sanasar or Nathatop if you start early.
What are the Trikuta hills?
The three-peaked hills above Katra in which the Vaishno Devi shrine sits.
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