How do I register for the Vaishno Devi Yatra?
Every Vaishno Devi pilgrim must register before the Yatra and get a free RFID Yatra card at the Katra counter, says the Shrine Board. You must cross the Banganga checkpost within 6 hours of the card being issued.
Are you going with family? Each person gets their own card.
These steps come from the Shrine Board's own pages. We did not log in to the online site, so we do not describe every button.
Why do you need to register?
The Shrine Board says registration is free. It also says the Board is the only authority that can do it.
The RFID card is the document that lets you go on to the shrine. Staff turn back people without it at Banganga. Anyone found at the Bhawan or on the track without it may face action.
What are the steps?
- Choose how to register. Online, you can log in at online.maavaishnodevi.org with your mobile number and an OTP and book a Yatra Parchi. On site, go to the Yatri Registration Counter (YRC) near the bus stand in Katra. A second counter, YRC-II, is near the second bus stand on Udhampur road.
- If you booked online, keep the slip on your phone. Keep the original ID you used to book. You must show the slip at a counter before 8:00 PM on the date of the Yatra, says the online terms.
- Go to a counter and collect your RFID card. In Katra, the counters are at the Bus Stand, Railway Station, Niharika Complex, Counter No. 02 and Serli Helipad. In Jammu, they are at Vaishnavi Dham and the Airport.
- If you register on site, give your name and basic details and have your photo taken. Each person gets a separate card.
- Reach the Banganga checkpost within 6 hours of the card being issued. The checkpost is about 1.5 km from the YRC. After that time staff take the card and you must register again.
- Carry valid ID and your slip on the climb.
- When the Yatra ends, give back the card at an exit point: Banganga, Tarakote or Serli Helipad.
What should you know?
- The Yatra Parchi is only a registration slip. You still need to collect the RFID card, says the Board.
- You do not need a Yatra Parchi for children below 5 years.
- The Board says registered pilgrims get free accident insurance: ₹3,00,000 for adults and ₹1,00,000 for minors.
- The Board says it has not authorised any private travel agent to book its services (login notice).
- The Board's Do's list says to carry only what you need, with valid ID and your Yatra slip.
What if the Yatra is full?
The Board says about 30,000 to 35,000 pilgrims can take darshan in a day. When too many come, it asks pilgrims to wait in Katra and gives no new registrations.
It names these busy times: weekends in May and June, the second half of December, and school, college or office holidays. Check the Board's site before you travel.
What does it cost?
The Board says registration is free. Its pages do not say whether the online Yatra Parchi has any fee, so look at the online site when you book.
More questions people ask
Is Vaishno Devi registration free?
Yes. The Board says registration is free. It does not say if the online slip has a fee.
Does each person need their own card?
Yes. The Board issues a separate RFID card to each pilgrim.
What if I reach Banganga after 6 hours?
Staff take the card and you must register again, says the Board.
Can I take my phone inside the cave?
The Board's terms say cell phones are not allowed inside the cave. Check the Board's latest rules before you go.
Quick summary
Registration is free and each person needs an RFID card before the climb.
Reach the Banganga checkpost within 6 hours, and give the card back when you finish.
Get your free RFID card at Katra, reach Banganga within 6 hours, and return the card at an exit point.