Katra in three days — the Vaishno Devi walk in a day, a rest, and Reasi's fort
Three days in Katra for those who want the walk to the Vaishno Devi Temple the way most pilgrims do it, through the night on the lit path, and a gentle day afterwards. The first evening you take the yatra card and walk up, about 6 hours by Wikivoyage's account; the second morning you go on to Bhairon and walk down; the third day is Bhimgarh Fort above Reasi. For a slower climb with a full day's light, see the two-day yatra plan.
Photos: Billjones94 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · KuwarOnline Talk (CC BY 3.0) · Housemdjk (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
First-time pilgrims arriving by train who want a night walk and a day to recover, and families who want one history stop in the trip.
Day by day
Day 1Arrive, register, and start the night walk
2 stops · 6 h on foot
Arrive, register, and start the night walk
Arrive by train, rest, take the yatra card in the evening and walk through the night, as Wikivoyage says most pilgrims do on the lit path.
- 17:00BangangaThe first check post, about 1.5 km from the registration counter. Take the card only when you are ready: it must cross here within 6 hours.
- ↓ 6 h on foot23:30Vaishno Devi TempleAbout 6 hours up by Wikivoyage's account. Darshan in the cave late at night, then rest near the Bhawan till first light.
Day 2Down from the Bhawan
2 stops · 6 h on foot
Down from the Bhawan
Bhairon in the morning, then the walk down and a lazy afternoon in Katra.
- 06:30Bhairon TempleAbout 2 km above the Bhawan, 2 hours on foot by Wikivoyage, or about 3 minutes by the ropeway. Devotees complete the yatra here.
- ↓ 6 h on foot13:45BangangaBack at the foot of the path. No source gives the walk down from Bhairon on its own, so this plan allows the same 6 hours as from the Bhawan.
Day 3Reasi and the fort
2 stops · 1 min on the road
Reasi and the fort
An easy day to rest the legs: the old fort over the Chenab, and back for the evening train.
- 10:00Bhimgarh FortAbout 42 minutes from Katra, on a hillock about 150 m over Reasi. Gulab Singh rebuilt and strengthened it between 1817 and 1841. We have no verified opening hours.
- ↓ a short walk12:00ReasiThe district town on the bank of the Chenab, at about 466 m. Lunch, then back to Katra.
Getting there
Katra station is about 1.6 km from the town; Jammu Airport is about 49 km and 71 minutes away. See how to reach Katra.
Where to stay
Two nights in Katra, with the first night spent walking and resting near the Bhawan. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.
Know before you go
- The yatra card is free and must cross Banganga within 6 hours of being issued.
- Wikivoyage says the path is lit and has water, toilets and medical posts; carry a warm layer for the small hours at the Bhawan, which is about 1,585 m up.
- Check the Shrine Board's notices in the monsoon, when heavy rain can stop the yatra for a while.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Katra itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Katra →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Is it better to walk to Vaishno Devi at night?
Wikivoyage says most pilgrims make the journey at night and that the whole path is lit, with water, toilets, dispensaries and shops along it. Walking at night avoids the heat of May and June, when Katra's mean highs are 33.7°C and 35.1°C. Carry a warm layer for the Bhawan.
How many days are enough for Katra?
Two days cover the yatra comfortably; three let you add Bhimgarh Fort above Reasi, about 42 minutes away, or the Siar Baba waterfall, and rest your legs before a train. Add a fourth day for the long trip to the Shiv Khori cave shrine, about 135 minutes to its road-head.
Where do I get the yatra card for Vaishno Devi?
At the Shrine Board's registration counter near the Katra bus stand, at a second counter about 1 km away on the Udhampur road, or online. It is free; you are photographed at the counter, and the RFID card must cross the Banganga check post within 6 hours of being issued.