Scenic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi | A Sacred Vacation

The best time for the Vaishno Devi Tour would be during the summer season which extends between the months of March and June. At this time of the year, you will find the weather perfect for mountain tours.

You can also come over to Vaishno Devi during the monsoon season between the months of July and September, but you need to be very careful about the weather changes. This is one such time of the year when you can enjoy a wide range of adventures. 

By Flight: The nearest airport to Katra for Vaishno Devi tour is Jammu Airport. You can take a taxi to cover the rest of the distance by road. You will also get direct buses on this route at regular intervals. If you wish, you can also opt for helicopter services at Sanjhi Chhat. 

By Road: You can easily reach Katra by bus services from the nearby cities like Jammu, Amritsar, and New Delhi. Apart from buses, you can also opt for taxi services or take self drive car rentals to drive down the beautiful roads. 

By Train: The nearest railway station for Vaishno Devi yatra is at Katra. You will get regular trains to this place from every major Indian city. You can reach Katra from your location and then spend some time at the luxurious accommodation close to the station and then cover the rest of the distance to the holy cave.

Once you are in the base camp of Katra, you will have to climb a distance of about 13 km. This is a well paved road which would take about 4 - 8 hours to complete the journey. You can also take a helicopter ride to Sanjichhat and then continue walking for about 2.5 km. 

• Vaishno Devi Temple: Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the sacred places that pilgrims love to visit every single year. The primary deity is Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of Goddess Durga. The locals refer to the deity as Mata Rani. As per legends, during the holy puja and aarti, Goddess Durga arrives at the cave and blesses the pilgrims.
• Katra: Located on the foothills of Trikuta Mountain Range, it is a base camp for the epic Vaishno Devi package. You can come over to this place from your hometown and then continue walking till you reach the holy cave. This place is also home to some of the beautiful attractions like Chenab River and Banganga. You can also try out mountain climbing and a number of excursion tours with your family. 
• Ardhkuwari: Ardhkuwari is yet another sacred place to visit in the Vaishno Devi Package. As per the legends, the Goddess Durga meditated in the caves of Ardhkuwari for about 9 months before making her abode in Vaishno Devi Bhawan. You can come over to this place, offer prayers at the holy cave and seek blessings from the almighty.

Yes, it is convenient for the devotees of all age groups as adequate facilities like catering, porters, accommodation etc. are available at Katra, Bhawan and enroute. Palkies can also be arranged, if needed.

The distance between Katra and Vaisho Devi is about 10 km. It takes about 5 - 8 hours to climb from Katra to Vaisho Devi and about 3 - 6 hours to descend down from the holy cave.

• You should make sure that you have obtained the Vaishno Devi package slip from the registration counter. If you forget to get that, then you will not be allowed to cross beyond the Ban Ganga Check post. 
• If you think you will not be able to make it to the cave walking down the road, then you can ask for a helicopter ride or palanquin ride at the registration counter. 
• You will be provided with food, water, and a blanket free of cost, so it is suggested to leave unnecessary items at the base camp.
• Kindly wait for the announcement of your group number for the darshan. It is at all times suggested to be attentive or else you may miss the announcement. 
•  You should completely clean yourself as well as your clothes before the Darshan. 
• You can use the cloak room to keep your valuables during the Darshan. 
• It should make sure that you are appropriately dressed up. 
• You should not carry any kind of electronic items into the cave like video camera mobiles, and any similar items.
• You should avoid resting on the landslide prone areas while climbing up and down. You should always take rest in designated places only. 

For hiring the registered Ponies, Pithoos or Palkies a yatri is required to contact the contractors offices at Bhawan / Adhkwari / Katra. The rates for these Palkies / Pithoos / Ponies are approved by the Govt. and for convenience the same can be cross checked from the Signboards installed by the Board along the track at prominent locations. Before engaging these Ponies, Palkies or Pithoos a devotee is required to note down the registration no. of the person(s) so engaged for reference in case of need. In case of any problem with the Contractors Office, the field offices of the Shrine Board can also be contacted at the above locations.

Yes, travelling to Kashmir is absolutely safe. However, don’t be shocked by the abundance of military checkpoints, tanks on the side of the road, military trucks and heavy armed soldiers roaming down the streets.