Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (Holy Cave), Trikuta Hills
Trikuta hills above Katra, Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir · Mata Vaishno Devi, worshipped as three natural rock heads (Pindis) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati
A mountain cave shrine of the Mother Goddess, reached by a 12 km climb from Katra, visited by about 8 to 9 million pilgrims a year.
Vaishno Devi is one of the most visited Hindu shrines in India. The goddess is not a carved idol: she is worshipped as three natural rock heads, called Pindis, inside a cave at about 1,585 m (5,200 ft) on the Trikuta mountain. Pilgrims walk, ride a pony, or take a helicopter and battery car from the base town of Katra to the Bhawan (the cave complex), and most go on to the Bhairon Nath temple higher up. Every pilgrim must register and carry an RFID Yatra Access Card, which replaced the old paper 'yatra parchi'.
Timings
- Yatra (trek): Open 24 hours, all year (subject to weather and daily crowd caps)
- Darshan at the Holy Cave: Round the clock, except about 2 hours each morning and evening when it pauses for the Atka Aarti
- Atka Aarti – morning: Just before sunrise (approx. 6:00–6:20 AM start)
- Atka Aarti – evening: Just after sunset (approx. 6:20 PM in winter, Oct–Feb; 7:20 PM in summer, Mar–Sep; check official site)
- Bhawan–Bhairon ropeway: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (official)
- Banganga checkpoint: Must be crossed within 6 hours of RFID card issue, or the card is cancelled
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan (with RFID Yatra Access Card) – Free
- Darshan in the old natural cave – Free
- Aarti darshan (Atka Aarti ticket) – approx. ₹2,000 per person
- Shraddha Suman Vishesh Pooja – ₹26,000 – ₹1,21,000
- Senior citizens and specially abled – Free
Sevas and costs
- Atka Aarti (Bhawan) – approx. ₹2,000 per person (widely reported; the Board's portal shows the current rate after login) (Twice daily: before sunrise and after sunset (approx. 6:20 AM; evening approx. 6:20 PM in…)
- Garbh Joon Aarti (Ardhkuwari) – approx. ₹500 per person (third-party reports; check official site) (Morning approx. 6:00 – 7:00 AM; evening approx. 6:00 PM (winter) or 7:00 PM (summer))
- Shraddha Suman Vishesh Pooja (SSVP) – Category A ₹26,000 (1 adult); B ₹48,000 (2); C ₹71,000 (3); D ₹1,21,000 (5). On festivals, Navratras, and Saturdays/Sundays between 15 March and 15 July the Board lists ₹35,000 per devotee (Daily, linked to the Atka Aarti (report at the Bhawan as instructed on the receipt))
- Havan / Poojan participation (Yagyashala) – Category A ₹2,100 (devotee need not be present; prasad sent by courier); Category B ₹11,000 (attend in person) (Daily (every morning), in the Yagyashala at the Bhawan; any day of the year, in advance…)
- Nav Chandi Paath – Check official site (By booking)
- Shringar Chola / Lehenga Choli offering – Varies by item (Check official site) (Any day)
- Langar Sewa (food donation) – Donation of your choice (Any day)
How to book darshan
Register (free) and book aarti, helicopter, battery car, rooms, prasad and poojan on the Shrine Board portal. Online bookings must still collect the RFID card in person.
Dress code
No strict dress code, but dress modestly. Wear good walking shoes and carry warm clothes: nights at the Bhawan are cold even in summer, and winter brings snow at Bhairon. A rain jacket is essential in the monsoon.
Best time to visit
March–June and September–November have the best weather. Navratri (March–April and September–October) is very festive but very crowded. Avoid peak summer weekends if you dislike crowds. Monsoon (July–August) brings landslide risk and suspensions. Winter (December–February) is cold but quiet, and the old natural cave is more likely to be open.
How to reach
- air: Jammu Airport (about 50 km from Katra); taxis and buses to Katra take about 1.5–2 hours. A Jammu–Bhawan helicopter sector also operates (₹12,710 one way per the Board's 2025 fare order).
- rail: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) station has direct trains from Delhi and other cities, including Vande Bharat, and since 2025 trains onward to Srinagar. Jammu Tawi is the other main station.
- road: Katra is about 42 km from Jammu by road. From Katra the trek starts at Banganga. Main track via Ardhkuwari about 12–13 km to the Bhawan; the newer Himkoti and Tarakote tracks avoid the steepest climb and are closed to ponies.
Festivals
- Navratri (Chaitra and Sharad) – March–April and September–October
- Diwali – October–November
- New Year – 31 December – 1 January
- Makar Sankranti – 14–15 January