Vaishno Devi · Registration
Vaishno Devi registration: the free RFID card every yatri needs.
There is no darshan ticket. Every yatri registers, free, and gets an RFID Yatra Access Card, online or at the counters in Katra. The card is checked at Banganga, and it has a time limit.
Cost
Free
Who
Every yatri, one card each
Where
Online, or counters in Katra
Checked at
Banganga check post
The short answer
Register free, collect one card per person, start soon after.
Registration for the Vaishno Devi yatra is free and required for every yatri. Register online or at the Yatra Registration Counter near the Katra bus stand (a second counter, YRC II, is near the second bus stand on Udhampur road). Each person gets their own RFID Yatra Access Card. The card is checked at the Banganga check post, about 1.5 km from the main counter, and yatris without a valid card are turned back. The card is time-limited: collect it when you are ready to start the climb.
By Shahid Parvez Khan (Local Operations Lead)·Published by Falcon Trails·Updated
The time limit on the card
The Shrine Board’s registration page says the Banganga check post must be crossed within 6 hours of the card being issued, or the card is confiscated there and you register again.
News reports from December 2025 describe newer timing rules: start within 10 to 12 hours of getting the card and return to Katra within 24 hours. The reports differ on the start window, so ask at the counter which rule applies on the day you go.
In practice: collect the cards in the morning you climb, not the evening before.
How to register
1
Online or at the counter
Register online on the Shrine Board site or at the Yatra Registration Counter near the Katra bus stand.
2
One RFID card per yatri
Children too. Carry a photo ID for each adult.
3
Banganga check post
Show the card. It also starts the time limit above.
What registration includes
Insurance of ₹3,00,000 for adults and ₹1,00,000 for minors, valid only for accidental death, comes with registration.
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.
How much does Vaishno Devi registration cost?
Nothing. Registration is free. Anyone charging for a "darshan ticket" is not the Shrine Board.
Can I register online?
Yes, on the Shrine Board site, or at the counters in Katra.
Does each person need a card?
Yes. A separate RFID Yatra Access Card is issued to each yatri.
How long is the RFID card valid?
The Shrine Board’s page says you must cross Banganga within 6 hours of getting it; December 2025 reports describe a newer 10 to 12 hour start window and a 24 hour return. Ask at the counter on the day.
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