🚆 By Train
• Nearest Station: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station (SVDK) – just 2 km from the base
• Well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Chennai
• From the station: Take auto-rickshaws, taxis, or local buses to reach the Yatra base

✈️ By Air
• Nearest Airport: Jammu Airport (IXJ) (~50 km from Katra)
• From Jammu: Taxis, shared cabs, or buses available to reach Katra (1.5–2 hours)

🚗 By Road
• Well-connected via National Highway 44
• Direct buses and taxis available from:
– Jammu (50 km / 1.5–2 hrs)
– Udhampur (25 km / 45 min)
– Delhi (about 650 km / 10–12 hrs)

🅿️ Parking available at Darshani Deodi (starting point of the trek)

🛕 Final Leg – Trek to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan (Temple)
• The holy shrine is 13.5 km uphill from Katra
• Options to reach Bhawan:
✔️ On foot (paved path, well-lit,Ramp)
✔️ Battery-operated vehicles
✔️ Ponies, palkis, and porters
✔️ Helicopter (from Katra to Sanjichhat; 2.5 km walk from there to Bhawan)

📲 Helicopter bookings available online via the official shrine board site

Shrine Board Accommodations (Niharika Bhawan, Trikuta Bhawan, Shakti Bhawan)
Price: ₹600–₹1,500/night

Ganpati Hotel
Price: ₹1,500–₹2,500/night

Hotel Dolphin Katra 
Price ₹2,000–₹3,000/night

The White Hotel, Katra (by Radisson)
Proce: ₹4,000–₹6,500/night

🕒 Vaishno Devi Temple Timings
Open 24 hours, all 7 days
Darshan is available all day, to accommodate the large number of pilgrims.

🔔 Aarti Timings
Aarti is performed twice a day at the main Bhawan (shrine):
• Morning Aarti: Starts around 4:00 AM
• Evening Aarti: Starts around 7:00 PM

Note: During Aarti (2–3 hours), darshan remains paused for the general public. Only those with special passes or Shrine Board permissions can attend.

Sagar Ratna (Hotel Subash) – Pure veg, known for South Indian, North Indian & thalis
💡 Clean, reliable, and family-friendly
📍 Near Bus Stand, Katra

🍛 Budget-Friendly Local Eats
Manoranjan Vaishno Dhaba – Famous for rajma-chawal, kadhi-rice, and parathas

Madhuban Restaurant (Hotel Asia Vaishno Devi)
💡 Sattvic food, Jain options available
📍 Railway Road, Katra

Prem Vaishno Dhaba – Local favorite for authentic Punjabi thali
💡 Affordable and filling meals
📍 Main Bazaar, Katra

Navratri
The most significant festival at Vaishno Devi Temple, celebrated twice a year in March–April (Chaitra) and September–October (Sharad).
🌺 The shrine is beautifully decorated, and lakhs of devotees visit during these 9 days of divine feminine energy.

Diwali
Celebrated with grandeur; the entire Bhawan and pathway glow with diyas and lights.
Devotees offer special prayers for health and prosperity.

🛕 Bhairon Nath Temple (2 km uphill from Bhawan)
Mandatory for completing the pilgrimage. You can reach here by foot or ropeway from Bhawan.

🌄Ardhkuwari Cave (6 km from Katra in between the route)
A sacred midway point on the trek where Mata Vaishno Devi meditated for 9 months.

🏞️Charan Paduka (1.5 km from Katra)
Believed to bear the footprints of the Goddess.

🧘‍Banganga River (~1 km from Katra)
The spot where the Goddess is believed to have created a stream with her arrow.

Yes, VIP Darshan facilities are available and regulated by the Shrine Board and with prior arrangements.