Vaishno Devi
Darshan Timings • Temples • Itineraries • How to Reach • Stay • Food • Festivals
🛕 About Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi is the best-run large shrine in India — the Shrine Board runs registration, tracking and transport as a system. 0 km, with the Bhawan at 5,200 ft (the board’s own chart); and the official helicopter to Sanjichhat books through the board’s portal, with a senior-citizen quota. 7 lakh pilgrims by June, up 27% year-on-year (reported).
Checked 02 October 2026.
The essentials
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Mandatory; RFID Yatra Access Card; online.maavaishnodevi.org | Verified — official source |
| Yatra slip | Free at the YRC near Katra bus stand (6 AM–10 PM) | Verified — official source |
| Checkpoint | None passes Banganga without the slip | Verified — official source |
| Route | Katra → Bhawan 13.0 km; Bhawan 5,200 ft; Bhairon Ghati 14.5 km | Verified — official source |
| Helicopter | Katra–Sanjichhat, official portal; senior quota | Official (portal) |
| Ropeway | Bhawan–Bhairon ropeway runs 9 AM–5 PM (reported ₹100 round trip) | Official hours / reported fare |
| 2026 season | 50.7 lakh by June (+27% YoY, reported) | Reported |
| Jammu → Katra | 50 km | Verified — official source |
| Opening hours | Widely described as 24×7 year-round | Unconfirmed — verify with board |
The shapes of the yatra
- Walk the full 13 km — the classic; paved track, chai stalls, the Ardhkuwari midpoint.
- Battery car / pony / palki for stretches — board-managed services (the services guide details them).
- Helicopter to Sanjichhat — the short walk from there to the Bhawan; official portal only.
- The completion stop: Bhairon temple by trek or ropeway — tradition completes the yatra there.
The page set
Registration · Track guide (leg-by-leg) · Ardhkuwari & Bhairon · Board accommodation · Battery car/palki/pony · Navratri 2026 · How to reach. Vaishno Devi runs all year — winter brings fewer crowds and colder track nights.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the trek?
13.0 km Katra–Bhawan at 5,200 ft — the shrine board’s chart (checked 2 October 2026).
Is registration needed?
Yes — RFID Yatra Access Card, online or at Katra; no entry past Banganga without it.
Yatra Alerts — free
Booking windows opening, festival dates, crowd advisories — a short alert only when it matters. Get the next Vaishno-devi alert before you plan.
🧭 Explore Vaishno Devi
🛕 Darshan Timings
1 guides
🚆 How to Reach
1 guides
🧳 Practical Guides
1 guides
🎆 Seasonal & Festivals
1 guides
🏨 Stay
1 guides
🏛️ Temples & Sites
3 guides
✅ Latest updates & verification
⚠️ Information can changeTemple timings, pass rules and travel details may change — always check the official source before travelling. Every number on this page names its source and the date it was last verified.
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