Vaishno Devi Temple which is also known as heaven on earth is one of the most famous temples in India due to which the journey of this temple is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimages. This temple is situated on the Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir. This temple is located inside a cave and to reach this temple one has to climb about 12 km. But the path to reach the temple is very beautiful which makes your journey memorable. The journey of Vaishno Devi Temple is considered to be the most sacred and famous due to which devotees come from far and wide to have the darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and during Navratri the crowd of devotees increases a lot.
What are the rates of palki, how to go by battery car and what will be its fare, what will be the fare of ropeway and helicopter and how you can book them. Along with this, we will also tell you what will be the right time to travel to Vaishno Devi Temple and how much expense will come to complete this entire journey. we will give you all this information step by step in detail.
Jagannath Puri Yatra 2025,Tour Guide,Rath Yatra
How to Reach Vaishno Devi Temple
First of all you have to reach Katra to reach Vaishno Devi Temple and from here your onward journey will start. You can reach Katra by bus, train or flight. If you want to reach Vaishno Devi Temple by bus then you will get direct bus facility from Delhi to Jammu and after reaching Jammu you will get good connectivity of daily buses from Jammu to Katra through which you can reach Katra by bus. From Jammu to Katra you will get both non AC buses and AC buses in which the fare of AC buses ranges from ₹1000 to ₹2000 and the fare of non AC buses ranges from ₹80 to ₹100. The distance from Jammu to Katra is about 45 km which you can cover in 3 to 4 hours.
And if you want to reach Katra by train then you will get good connectivity of trains from many big cities of India to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station or if you do not get train to Katra Railway Station then you can reach Jammu Tawi Railway Station by train and from Jammu to Katra you can reach by changing train or through buses or taxi.
Local Transfer from Railway Station
If you are going by train then from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station you can reach Katra bus stand by auto, taxi or on foot. The fare of auto from Katra Railway Station to Katra bus stand is ₹1 and if you have come from Jammu Tawi by taxi or buses then these bus people or taxi people drop you at Katra bus stand. So friends now you will reach Katra bus stand.
Stay Arrangements in Katra/Accomodation In Katra
In Katra you will get many options to stay such as private hotels which you will get from ₹600 to ₹1000 and only for bathing and washing and local room facility you will also get here which is at ₹10 per person and this facility you will get near Katra bus stand as well as near the railway station.
According to me you should take this facility near Katra bus stand and friends this complex near Katra bus stand has been built by the trust of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. Here you get dormitory and hotel facility to stay whose prices are like this and dormitory facility is available here at ₹50 per person.
You can book these dormitory or hotels on this website whose link you will get in the description below but you should book about two months before because the chances of getting hotel or dormitory directly after coming here are less.
Yatra Registration – RFID Card
How you can start your journey or before starting the journey you have to make RFID card which you can make from Katra railway station, new Tarakot route, Trikuta Bhawan or near Katra bus stand.
- This RFID card is made free which you can make here. You only have to take your Aadhaar card where your photo is clicked and you get RFID card and you have to wear this RFID card throughout the journey.
- After making RFID card you have to walk about 2 km from bus stand to reach Banganga gate. Now you can go either on foot or you can also go through auto from near bus stand.
- The fare of auto to go through these is ₹50. At Banganga gate your checking will be done then your climb will start from here and the path from here to the main Bhawan is about 12 km.
Now you can complete this path either on foot or you can also complete through horse, palki and pitthu. The fare of horse or mule is like this and the fare of palki is like this and if you have child with you and you want to take trolley for him then the prices are like this and if you want to go through battery car then its charges are like this but this is available only from Ardh Kuwari to Bhawan and its ticket should be booked about one to two months before because the chances of getting direct ticket are very less.
Routes to Vaishno Devi Temple
Now you can reach by chanting the name of Mata Rani through two routes, one Tarakot route and one Banganga route. If you want to walk then you can go through Tarakot route where you do not get horse, mule, palki and this route is made for walking people and you can also go through Banganga route. During the journey you will get washrooms, benches, eateries and shops at different places. The food prices in these eateries are like this.
Ardh Kuwari and Bhawan Stay Options
Now when you cross half the way then you will see these two routes which go ahead to Bhawan. One route is known as Hathi Matha route which goes through Ardh Kuwari and the other route is known as Himkoti route which goes straight to Bhawan and this route does not go through Ardh Kuwari. Now if you go through Ardh Kuwari then you can go for darshan above.
Here is the Garbh Joon cave where you can go for darshan and here is also this temple where you can go for darshan but in Garbh Joon the crowd remains high due to which the waiting time is 24 to 36 hours. So if you have that much time then you can take darshan slip from the counter near here which is free. And if you will stop here for darshan then you will also have to arrange stay here
. In Ardh Kuwari, for stay, in Sharda Bhawan by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Trust, you get facility where you get at about ₹1 per person. This dormitory you get in Shri Putri Bhawan but friends these also you have to book about 2 months before because the chances of getting rooms or dormitory here after coming are less.
If you want to stay outside, then here also you can stay by taking a blanket which you get at ₹100 and you have to deposit ₹100 when you take the blanket. When you return the blanket, then you get back ₹100.
Now you will move ahead to Bhawan. Here also you get rooms to stay, whose prices are like this, and a dormitory you get at ₹250 per person, which is near Bhawan where you can stay. But friends, again you have to book 2 months before, whose website link you will get in the description.
And friends, if you do not want to stay here, then you also get arrangement to stay below Manokamna Bhawan which is free. Here you can stay by taking a blanket by depositing ₹100, and when you return the blanket then you get ₹100 back.
Before going for darshan in Bhawan you can deposit your luggage in a cloakroom near Bhawan, which is free. Near Bhawan, for bathing, there are separate facilities for ladies and gents where you can arrange your bath. After depositing all your luggage in the cloakroom you can go for darshan of Vaishno Devi Ji. Darshan you can get easily in one to two hours. If you come here in Navratri or during any festival then you may take more time, otherwise you can get darshan easily in one to two hours.
Bhairav Baba Temple Visit
And friends, after darshan of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji you can go up to Bhairav Baba Temple for darshan of Shri Bhairavnath Ji. This temple is situated a little higher on the hill from Bhawan. To reach Bhairav Baba Temple you can go by climbing on foot, through horse or mule, or you can also go through ropeway. The ticket of ropeway is ₹100 per person (one way). This ropeway runs from morning 8:00 AM to evening 6:00 PM. For taking tickets, you have to stand in line about 1 hour before, and if you want to take tickets online then you can book on the official website (link will be in description).
Now after reaching up, you will see the prasad counter before the temple where you get prasad at ₹50. After taking prasad, you can go for darshan of Bhairav Baba Ji, and darshan here you get easily in 10 to 20 minutes. After darshan of Bhairav Baba Ji, you can come back down. If you had gone through ropeway, then through the same ticket you will reach back down to Bhawan, or you can also go by walking.
Return Journey from Bhawan
Now after reaching Bhawan, you can return down from Bhawan to Banganga Gate through horse, mule, palki, and battery car, whose fare I have already told you. So friends, now you will reach Banganga Gate below where you can deposit your RFID card. From outside Banganga Gate, you will get autos for Katra bus stand at ₹10 per person. You can reach bus stand through auto or you can also go on foot.
Helicopter Facility
And friends, if you want to go for darshan to the temple through helicopter, then the fare of helicopter is ₹2,000 one way per person. You can book its ticket online. In the description below you will get its link also. Remember, you have to book at least 1 to 2 months before because the chances of getting tickets here are less.
Best Time to Visit Vaishno Devi
And if we talk about what will be the right time to do Vaishno Devi Yatra, then although you can come here on any day of the year for darshan, if you come here on New Year, during any festival, or during Navratri, then you will see a little more crowd. Otherwise, you can come for darshan here after winter Navratri which is from October to December. At that time you will get darshan easily and crowd will also be less.
Total Cost of Vaishno Devi Yatra
And if we talk about how much expense will come to complete this entire journey for one person, then to complete this entire journey, the expense comes from around ₹2,000 to ₹2,200. You can complete this journey easily in 1 to 2 days.
Overview Table of Vaishno Devi Yatra
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Point | Katra (Jammu & Kashmir) |
| Distance to Bhawan | ~12 km uphill trek |
| Transport Options | On foot, horse, mule, palki, pitthu, battery car (from Ardh Kuwari), ropeway (to Bhairav Baba), helicopter (from Katra) |
| Stay Options | Private hotels (₹600 onwards), Trust dormitories (₹50 per person), free blanket stay at Manokamna Bhawan |
| Registration | Free RFID card (mandatory) |
| Best Time | October to December (less crowd), avoid peak Navratri/festivals |
| Average Duration | 1–2 days |
| Estimated Cost | From ₹ to ₹22 per person |
FAQs on Vaishno Devi Yatra
Q1. How far is Vaishno Devi Temple from Katra?
It is about 12 km uphill from Katra bus stand via Banganga or Tarakot route.
Q2. Is RFID registration mandatory for Vaishno Devi Yatra?
Yes, you must collect a free RFID card from Katra railway station, bus stand, or Trikuta Bhawan before starting the journey.
Q3. How much is the helicopter fare for Vaishno Devi?
The helicopter fare is about ₹2000000 per person one way, and prior online booking (1–2 months in advance) is required.
Q4. Where can devotees stay during the Yatra?
You can stay in private hotels, trust dormitories (₹50 per person), or even use free blanket arrangements at Manokamna Bhawan.
Q5. Which is the best route for walking pilgrims?
The Tarakot route is specially made for walking devotees and does not allow horses, palki, or mules. It is cleaner and more comfortable for walking.