The Bhawan
The holy cave shrine with the three pindis.
The cave shrine above Katra
Vaishno Devi
The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta hills, about 13 km on foot from Katra. One of India’s most visited pilgrimages — and now a train ride from Srinagar.
Reasi districtAbout 1,580 m at the BhawanAbout 50 km from Jammu · Katra is the base from Srinagar
The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is a cave in the Trikuta mountains above Katra, in Reasi district. Millions of pilgrims make the journey every year to see the three natural rock forms — the pindis — worshipped as the goddess in her three aspects.
From Katra, a paved path climbs roughly 13 km to the Bhawan, the shrine complex. Pilgrims walk, ride ponies, take palkis, or use battery cars on part of the new track. A helicopter service flies from Katra to Sanjichhat, about 2.5 km from the Bhawan, and a ropeway connects the Bhawan to the Bhairon temple above.
Registration and planning
Every pilgrim needs a yatra registration (an RFID card), issued online or at counters in Katra. Helicopter tickets sell out early in peak season — book on the shrine board’s official site as soon as dates open. Navratri, summer holidays and New Year are the most crowded times.
Combining with Kashmir
Since June 2025, the Vande Bharat train runs from Katra to Srinagar over the Chenab bridge in about three hours. A Vaishno Devi darshan followed by Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam is now one easy trip. We build these combined itineraries regularly.
Things to do
What to see in Vaishno Devi
Bhairon temple
Above the Bhawan by ropeway or path; traditionally visited after darshan.
Ardhkuwari
The cave halfway up the track, an important stop on the yatra.
Best time to visit
March to June and September to November are most comfortable. Winter is cold but less crowded; monsoon (July–August) brings rain and occasional landslides.
How to reach
- By train — Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station has direct trains from Delhi and other cities, and the Vande Bharat to Srinagar.
- By road — about 50 km from Jammu, around 1.5–2 hours.
- By air — Jammu airport, then road to Katra.
Tour packages
All packagesAdd Vaishno Devi to a Kashmir package
Best Seller4N / 5D
Kashmir 4N/5D — Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg & Pahalgam
Srinagar · Gulmarg · Sonamarg · Pahalgam
The complete valley circuit with deluxe stays on MAP plan, a private vehicle throughout and an hour on Dal Lake by shikara.
- Dal Lake Shikara
- Gulmarg
- Sonamarg
- Pahalgam
Starting from₹27,200total, all inclusive
Houseboat Stay5N / 6D
Kashmir 5N/6D with Pahalgam Stay & Deluxe Houseboat
Srinagar · Gulmarg · Sonamarg · Pahalgam · Dal Lake
Adds a night in Pahalgam and a night aboard a deluxe Dal Lake houseboat to the classic valley circuit.
- Deluxe Houseboat
- Pahalgam Stay
- Shikara Ride
- Private Sedan
Starting from₹29,700total, all inclusive
Budget Romance4N / 5D
Glimpse of Kashmir — 4N/5D Honeymoon
Srinagar · Gulmarg · Sonamarg · Pahalgam
Deluxe houseboat, shikara ride, candlelight dinner and cake across the four main valley stops.
- Deluxe Houseboat
- Shikara Ride
- Candle Dinner
- Cake
Starting from₹36,645total, all inclusive
Questions
Visiting Vaishno Devi
Not yet. You take a train from Delhi to Katra or Jammu Tawi and change to the Vande Bharat to Srinagar, which takes about 3 hours from Katra and about 4 hours 45 minutes from Jammu Tawi. A direct Delhi–Srinagar sleeper service has been announced but was not running as of October 2026.
Indian citizens need a valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport or Voter ID). Foreign nationals require a valid passport and Indian visa. Some areas near the border may require special permits — we assist with all documentation for your Kashmir trip.
Absolutely. Every Kashmir tour package we offer can be customised to match your preferences, group size, budget and travel dates. Simply contact us with your requirements and we will design the perfect Kashmir itinerary for you.
Reasi district
All destinationsMore places to visit in Reasi
- Shiv KhoriThe cave of Shiva in Reasi
Nearby
Other places in the valley
The cave of Shiva in Reasi
Shiv Khori
Jammu’s great temple complex
Raghunath Temple
Pine-forest hill station
Patnitop
The summer capital