HomeJammu and KashmirVaishno Devi

Best time to visit: March - July

This journey takes one through an awesome view of snow-capped mountains and sprawling forests to the sacred and mystical shrine of Vaishno Devi. Round the year scores of devotees ascend the steep pathway cutting across the hillside. People believe Vaishno Devi “beckons” her devotees; and once called, a pilgrim is automatically drawn to the holy shrine. Some supernatural power keeps pilgrims going on as they climb those great heights, step by step, chanting “Prem se bolo, Jai Mata di”. Even those unused to walking accomplish the difficult ascent with ease. The faithful believe nobody comes back from Vaishno Devi’s abode empty handed.

It is mandatory to obtain a slip from the Yatra Registration Counter at the Tourism Reception Centre in Katra without which one cannot cross the Banganga check-post. The yatra begins from Katra and involves a 13 km of trek to the shrine. The yatra slip at the registration office at the Bhawan gets the pilgrim a number which determines his or her place in the queue for darshan.

Prasad and other puja requirements are available at shops located at the entrance of the Bhawan. It is believed that the journey to Mata's shrine is incomplete without a visit to the shrine of Bhairon, 2.5 km from the Bhawan on the return journey.

By Air: Indian Airlines flights connect Jammu with Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Srinagar.

Airport: The nearest airport is at Jammu. Jet Airways has a confirmation counter at Katra.

By Road: Jammu is on NH 1-A and is connected by the national highway network to all parts of the country.
Jammu to Katra : Buses leave every 10 minutes for Katra, from the General Bus Stand. Taxis are always available from the airport, railway station and the Tourist Reception Centre in Jammu. Luxury buses leaving Jammu for Katra charge Rs 45 per person. Katra to Vaishnodevi. The aged and children can, however, hire a pony. The bus stand at Katra serves as the roadhead for Vaishnodevi. All the northern state transport corporations ply special buses to Katra for the benefit of devotees.

By Rail: Jammu Tawi is an important railhead on the Northern Railway line. Express trains connect it with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Amritsar. Some of the trains servicing Jammu include Jammu Mail, Jammu Express, Shalimar Express, Sealdah Express, Jhelum Express, Madras Express and the Rajdhani Express. Railway: The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi. Katra has a reservation counter where bookings can be made.

Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Vaishno Devi