Jammu & Kashmir
Vaishno Devi & Katra
The Trikuta hills yatra, with the registration and the walk planned in advance
- Suggested trip
- 3 days
- Suited to
- families; solo travellers
In 30 seconds
- Ideal length
- 3 days
- Best time
- March to June and September to November for walking weather. Winter is cold, and the monsoon can disrupt the route.
- Good for
- Family, Solo / Community, Custom, Couple
- Popular from
- Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow
Vaishno Devi & Katra: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, Katra Jammu & Kashmir INDIA
Photo 1 of 2
Getting there
- From Jammu
- Approx 50 km to Katra, about 2 hours by road
- Katra to the Bhawan
- About 12 to 13 km on foot, roughly 5 to 8 hours
- From Delhi
- Vande Bharat and other trains run to Katra, about 8 hours by the fastest
- Nearest airport
- Jammu, about 50 km from Katra
Make the route work for you
Before you choose Vaishno Devi & Katra
- Who this idea suits
- Family, Solo / Community, Custom, Couple. Travelling with children, elders or anyone with mobility needs? Tell us and we set the daily pace around them.
- Allow for your departure city
- Fly to Jammu or take a direct train to Katra station, then local transport to the Katra bus stand where the yatra begins. Delhi has direct trains to Katra. Travel estimates vary with your actual starting point, traffic and operating conditions.
What should my written quote confirm?
- Property name, room category and meal plan
- Vehicle type, pickup point and arrival/return times
- Total cost, taxes, inclusions and optional extras
- Availability, payment schedule and cancellation terms
About this trip
Vaishno Devi is a cave shrine in the Trikuta hills, reached from the town of Katra. It is run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which sets the rules for registration, the route and services on the way up.
Read more about Vaishno Devi & Katra
The walk is about 12 to 13 km each way on a paved, covered path with rest stops, and most pilgrims go in a day. Ponies, palanquins, battery cars and helicopters are available for those who cannot walk the full route, subject to the Shrine Board's current rules.
How to reach: Fly to Jammu or take a direct train to Katra station, then local transport to the Katra bus stand where the yatra begins. Delhi has direct trains to Katra.
The Reality Check
When not to go:Navratri weeks, school holidays and long weekends for crowds, and heavy monsoon weeks in July and August, when the route can be closed
- Ponies, palanquins, battery cars and helicopters are priced separately by the Shrine Board or its registered operators, check the approved rates
- Helicopter seats and special services are booked through the Shrine Board and sell out before festivals
Trip highlights
- The yatra from Katra to the Bhawan
- Banganga and Ardh Kuwari on the way up
- Bhairon Ghati, visited after darshan at the cave
- Katra town, the base for pilgrims
- Jammu's Raghunath temple and Bahu Fort on the way in or out
Did you know?
Katra's railway station was opened in 2014 as the rail head for the pilgrimage, and direct trains now run to it from Delhi.
Vaishno Devi & Katra is famous for
Things to actually do here
Yatra to the Bhawan
A paved route of about 12 to 13 km with rest stops, covered in parts, from Katra to the cave shrine.
Ardh Kuwari
A halfway shrine on the route where many pilgrims rest.
Bhairon Ghati
A higher viewpoint and temple visited after darshan at the cave.
Raghunath temple and Bahu Fort, Jammu
Two easy stops in Jammu before or after the yatra.
Sample itinerary
A starting point, not a confirmed booking. Changes depend on dates, access and availability.
2 day plan
A night train or early flight in, darshan the same day and an evening return.
4 day plan with Jammu
A slower family version with a day of local sightseeing.
What's typically included
- Stay in hand-picked hotels or homestays for your group size
- Private or shared transport as per your plan
- Daily breakfast (more meals available on request)
- Sightseeing and activities as per itinerary
- A single Gozy Trips point of contact from booking to return
What's not included
- Flights or train tickets to the base city, unless added to your plan
- Personal expenses, tips and anything outside the listed itinerary
- Adventure activities not included in the base package (available as add-ons)
- Travel insurance
- Anything not explicitly listed as included on your final quote
Price depends on your dates, hotel category, group size and how much transport you need. Send us your plan for a real quote.
- Itemised quoteEvery quote is itemised: the hotel and room type for each night, the vehicle, and which meals are included, so you can compare it line by line.
- Second opinion on any quoteAlready have a quote from another agency? Send it and we will tell you whether we can do the same trip for less. If we cannot, we will say so.
