Vaishno Devi Yatra

Leg-by-leg distances

1. 1
   Katra → Banganga1 kmon foot

   Starting point of yatra. Shrine registration / Yatra Access Card counter at Katra bus stand. Official Shrine Board altitude table puts Banganga at ~2,800 ft (~853 m) MSL, 1 km from Katra.

2. 2
   Banganga → Charan Paduka1.5 kmon foot

   Sacred footprints site. Official Shrine Board altitude table puts Charan Paduka at ~3,380 ft (~1,030 m) MSL, 2.5 km from Katra.

3. 3
   Charan Paduka → Adhkuwari (Ardhkuwari)3.5 kmon foot

   Major midpoint waypoint (~6 km from Katra, ~4,800 ft / ~1,463 m MSL per the official table). Last point of retreat if daily quota exceeded. Ponies and palkis available up to here on the traditional route.

4. 4
   Adhkuwari → Himkoti2.5 kmon foot

   Rest house available. Official table: Himkoti ~8.5 km from Katra, ~5,120 ft (~1,561 m) MSL. (SacredYatra cites 2.75 km Adhkuwari-Himkoti on the new route; official cumulative delta is ~2.5 km.)

5. 5
   Himkoti → Sanjichhat1 kmon foot

   Highest way-station. Sanjichhat helipad location. Shrine Board langar service. Official table: Sanjichhat ~9.5 km from Katra, ~6,200 ft (~1,890 m) MSL.

6. 6
   Sanjichhat → Bhawan (Main Shrine)3.5 kmon foot

   Sacred cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi; main darshan point at ~5,200 ft (~1,585 m) MSL, 13 km from Katra per the official table. (Newer Tarakote/helipad-side walk is often cited as ~2.5 km; the traditional-route cumulative delta is 3.5 km.)

7. 7
   Bhawan → Bhairavnath Temple (Bhairon Ghati)1.5 kmon foot

   Belief holds the yatra incomplete without Bhairavnath darshan (not technically forbidden to skip). Steep ~30-60 min ascent on foot, or ~5 min via the Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway (INR 100). Official table: Bhairon Ghati ~14.5 km from Katra, ~6,619 ft (~2,017 m) MSL = 1.5 km above Bhawan. (Some non-official sources cite 2-2.5 km.)

How to cover it

• foot

  Main trek option, 13 km from Katra to Bhawan, typically 5-8 hours. Multiple maintained tracks (traditional, new, Himkoti link, and the newer foot-only Tarakote Marg).

• pony

  Available on the older Banganga-Adhkuwari-Sanjichhat traditional route (commonly up to Adhkuwari or onward). NOT permitted on the foot-only Tarakote Marg.

• palki

  Hand-carried palanquin (sedan chair) service on the traditional route. Availability varies by season. Not permitted on Tarakote Marg.

• heli

  Helicopter service Katra to Sanjichhat helipad (a few minutes' flight). Fares fluctuate - verify current price and book in advance via the official maavaishnodevi.org portal. From Sanjichhat helipad it is a short walk/pony ride to Bhawan.

• ropeway

  Aerial ropeway connecting Bhawan area to Bhairavnath temple, ~5 minutes, INR 100 (replaces a steep ~1.5 km / multi-hour climb). Confirm operating hours on arrival.

• porter

  Manual carry / porter service available along the route, useful for elderly or unwell pilgrims.

What trips pilgrims up

• ⚠Compulsory Yatra Slip / RFID Registration

  Every pilgrim MUST register and collect a free RFID-based Yatra Access Card before starting. Online at https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/causes/yatra-registration or at the Yatra Registration Counter, Katra. JK Police guidelines confirm registration is mandatory and only designated tracks may be used - shortcuts/deviations are prohibited. Without the slip pilgrims are turned back.

• ⚠Daily Capacity Quotas & Sudden Closures

  The shrine caps daily pilgrim numbers; once the cap is reached, registration/gates can close at Katra or Adhkuwari. The Old Cave (Prachin Gufa) opens only when daily footfall is low. Authorities/SDM or the Shrine Board can suspend darshan immediately during crowd surges to prevent stampedes. During peak Navratri (spring Chaitra and autumn Sharad) expect long waits and advance booking. (Exact daily numeric caps vary by season and are not stated here - confirm with the Shrine Board.)

• ⚠Weather-Dependent Accessibility

  Avoid the monsoon (roughly July-September): flash-flood and mudslide risk; JK Police advise against undertaking the yatra in adverse weather and resting near landslide-prone slopes. Heavy snowfall can affect upper sections in December-February. Carry weather-protective clothing and footwear with grip.

• ⚠Difficult Final Leg to Bhairavnath

  The ~1.5 km ascent from Bhawan to Bhairavnath is steep, ~30-60 min on foot, and not ideal for the elderly or unwell. The Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway (INR 100, ~5 min) is the easier option. Skipping Bhairavnath is traditionally discouraged but not forbidden.

• ⚠Limited Services at Higher Waypoints

  Shrine Board free langar and water points are concentrated at the main way-stations (e.g. Tarakote, Adhkuwari, Sanjichhat, Bhairavnath); water can run low in peak season. Accommodation (dormitories/rooms) at Jammu, Katra, Adhkuwari, Sanjichhat and Bhawan - book ahead during Navratri and summer rush.

• ⚠Tarakote Marg Is Foot-Only

  The newer Tarakote Marg track is reserved for foot traffic - no ponies or palkis. Choose the route that matches your physical capability; ponies/palkis run only on the older Banganga-Adhkuwari traditional route.

• ⚠Altitude & Acclimatization

  Bhawan sits at ~5,200 ft (~1,585 m); Sanjichhat ~6,200 ft (~1,890 m) and Bhairon Ghati ~6,619 ft (~2,017 m) per the official altitude table. Breathlessness is common for plains-origin pilgrims - rest at Katra (~2,500 ft) before ascending and carry water/electrolytes.

• ⚠Darshan Wait Times in Peak Season

  Peak rush (May-July, Chaitra and Sharad Navratri, New Year) can mean very long darshan queues; the Shrine Board itself advises avoiding peak-rush periods for quicker darshan. Off-peak overnight hours are quietest.

Common questions

How long is the Vaishno Devi Yatra?

13 km total, typically done over 1–3 days. The leg-by-leg distances are listed above.

When is the best time for the Vaishno Devi Yatra?

The best window is March–June, October–November. The route is open year-round.

How do you cover the Vaishno Devi Yatra?

foot: Main trek option, 13 km from Katra to Bhawan, typically 5-8 hours. Multiple maintained tracks (traditional, new, Himkoti link, and the newer foot-only Tarakote Marg). pony: Available on the older Banganga-Adhkuwari-Sanjichhat traditional route (commonly up to Adhkuwari or onward). NOT permitted on the foot-only Tarakote Marg. palki: Hand-carried palanquin (sedan chair) service on the traditional route. Availability varies by season. Not permitted on Tarakote Marg. heli: Helicopter service Katra to Sanjichhat helipad (a few minutes' flight). Fares fluctuate - verify current price and book in advance via the official maavaishnodevi.org portal. From Sanjichhat helipad it is a short walk/pony ride to Bhawan. ropeway: Aerial ropeway connecting Bhawan area to Bhairavnath temple, ~5 minutes, INR 100 (replaces a steep ~1.5 km / multi-hour climb). Confirm operating hours on arrival. porter: Manual carry / porter service available along the route, useful for elderly or unwell pilgrims.