How to reach Katra — by train, by road from Delhi and Jammu, and on to Srinagar
How to reach Katra for Vaishno Devi: SVDK station and the Vande Bharat to Srinagar, Delhi 642 km by road, Jammu station and airport, with measured times.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Things to do in Katra — the yatra, Bhairon, Reasi's fort, Siar Baba and the train to Srinagar
Things to do in Katra: the Vaishno Devi yatra and Bhairon, Bhimgarh Fort at Reasi, Siar Baba Waterfall, Shiv Khori, and the Vande Bharat over the Chenab.
Katra is the base for one great walk, but the country around it, once the hill state of Bhimgarh, has more. Here are six things to do, nearest first, with our measured road times.
Photos: Abhishek Chandra (Public domain) · Naresh Gopal Sharma (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
1. Walk to the Vaishno Devi Bhawan
The reason almost everyone comes. Register for the free yatra card near the bus stand, cross the Banganga check post within 6 hours, and walk 12 to 14 km up the Trikuta hills to the Vaishno Devi Temple, the cave in which the goddess is present as three pindis. The yatra guide goes through it step by step.
2. Go on to Bhairon
Devotees complete the pilgrimage at the Bhairon temple on the ridge about 2.5 km above the Bhawan; a ropeway does it in about 3 minutes. The two-day plan gives the walk and Bhairon a full day.
3. Climb to Bhimgarh Fort at Reasi
About 24 km and 42 minutes by road, Bhimgarh Fort stands on a hillock about 150 m over Reasi and the Chenab. Its first walls were of clay, raised by Raja Bhim Dev; Gulab Singh rebuilt and strengthened it between 1817 and 1841.
4. See the Siar Baba waterfall
Beyond Reasi, about 30 km and 50 minutes from Katra, the Siar Baba Waterfall drops down a tall rock face; it runs fullest after the monsoon. The Reasi day plan pairs it with the fort.
5. Ride the train to Srinagar
Since 6 June 2025 Vande Bharat trains have run from Katra to Srinagar. On the way the line crosses the Chenab Rail Bridge, 359 m above the river bed, the highest rail bridge in the world. How to reach Katra has the details, and the Srinagar guide picks up at the other end.
6. Shiv Khori, if you have a long day
The cave shrine of Shiva at Shiv Khori is far: about 73 km and 135 minutes from Katra to the road-head at Ransoo on our routing, then about 3 km on foot. Wikipedia describes a natural cave about 200 m long with a lingam inside, and a three-day fair at Maha Shivratri. Go early and check with the Shiv Khori Shrine Board.
When to come
March–April and October–November are the mild, drier months at Katra; see the best time to go.
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Questions people ask
What can I see in Katra apart from Vaishno Devi?
Bhimgarh Fort above Reasi, about 42 minutes away by road, and the Siar Baba waterfall beyond it, about 50 minutes, make a day out. Further off, the Shiv Khori cave shrine is about 135 minutes to its road-head at Ransoo. The train from Katra to Srinagar crosses the Chenab Rail Bridge.
How many days do I need in Katra?
Two is comfortable: one to arrive, register and rest, and one for the walk to the Bhawan and Bhairon and back. Add a third for Reasi's fort and the Siar Baba falls, or a fourth for Shiv Khori. If you are going on to Srinagar by train, add that as the next leg.
Is Shiv Khori a day trip from Katra?
A long one. The road-head at Ransoo is about 73 km and 135 minutes from Katra on our routing (Wikipedia says the cave is about 80 km from Katra), and the last 3 km is on foot. Start early, carry water, and check with the Shiv Khori Shrine Board before you go.