Katra & Vaishno Devi
Base town for the Vaishno Devi yatra, roughly 45 minutes from Jammu.
Distance from Srinagar
~265 km via Banihal (7–8 hrs)
Altitude
820m (Katra); shrine at ~1,760m
Best time
March to June and September to November for comfortable yatra weather.
Ideal stay
2 nights
Katra is the base town for the Vaishno Devi yatra — the roughly 12–13 km climb (or pony, palki or helicopter, arranged locally) up to the shrine. It's a full day's undertaking on its own, which is why every itinerary that includes it gives it a dedicated day rather than squeezing it in.
We arrange the stay, vehicle and connection onward to Jammu or Kashmir; the yatra registration slip and the climb itself are things every pilgrim manages directly at the counters in Katra.
What to do here
- Vaishno Devi darshan (registration slip required, collected at Katra)
- Ardhkuwari cave along the route
- Helicopter option to Sanjichhat (booked separately)
- Battery car or pony for part of the climb
- Evening at the Katra market