Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir
Photo: Maheshkumarrathi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Vaishno Devi Temple Timings

Vaishno Devi Temple: open 24 hours.

Mata Vaishno Devi, worshipped in the form of three natural rock pindis representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati · Katra, Jammu & Kashmir

DeviFree entryHigh confidence
Darshan hours (as published)
Open 24 hours
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Vaishno Devi Temple stands in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, honours Mata Vaishno Devi, worshipped in the form of three natural rock pindis representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. It is also known as Mata Vaishno Devi, Mata Rani, Trikuta Bhagwati.

One of the holiest and busiest Hindu pilgrimages in India; tradition holds that a visit is incomplete without also visiting the Bhairon Temple, about 2 km above the main shrine. The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta Hills of Jammu & Kashmir is one of the most revered and most visited pilgrimage sites in India, drawing millions of devotees each year.

Jammu & Kashmir carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home of two of India's greatest Himalayan pilgrimages, the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi at Katra and the ice-lingam of Amarnath high in the Kashmir mountains.

Darshan hours and daily worship

SessionTiming (as published)
MorningOpen 24 hours
EveningOpen 24 hours

Per the Shrine Board's own official website (maavaishnodevi.org), the Aarti is performed twice daily, just before sunrise and again immediately after sunset (not at a fixed clock time), and each takes nearly two hours, during which general darshan is suspended while maintenance work inside the cave is carried out. The aerial ropeway between the Bhawan and Bhairon Temple operates 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A mandatory, free Yatra Registration (RFID Yatra Access Card) must be obtained at the Yatri Registration Counter (YRC) near the Katra bus stand, or online, before starting the trek; a pilgrim must cross the first checkpost at Banganga within 6 hours of the card's issue or it is confiscated. Daily darshan capacity is roughly 30,000-35,000 pilgrims; when demand exceeds this the Shrine Board imposes 'Waiting' at Katra (no fresh registrations issued), most common on May/June weekends, the second half of December, and other school/office holiday periods.

Poojas and daily rituals

Daily morning and evening aartis; special pujas and offerings can be booked through the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

Weekly or monthly auspicious daysNavratri days are the most auspicious.
Signature annual eventsThe Navratri festivities at Katra and the Bhawan.

Festivals and special-day timings

Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.

FestivalPeriodWhat happens
Navratri (Chaitra and Sharad)March-April and September-OctoberThe shrine is at its most vibrant, with grand celebrations and the largest crowds.

History and architecture

Architecture

A cave shrine set high in the Trikuta Mountains, where the goddess is worshipped as three natural pindis (rock formations) rather than idols. The complex includes the main Bhawan and associated shrines along the pilgrim route.

History

The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta Hills of Jammu & Kashmir is one of the most revered and most visited pilgrimage sites in India, drawing millions of devotees each year. The yatra passes sacred spots such as Ardh Kuwari (the cave where the goddess is believed to have meditated) and is completed with a visit to the Bhairon Temple above the Bhawan.

Planning your visit

Entry feeFree darshan; Yatra registration (RFID Yatra Access Card) is mandatory and free, obtained at the Yatri Registration Counter in Katra or online via the Shrine Board. Pony, palki, porter, battery-car and helicopter services are chargeable; the aerial ropeway to Bhairon Temple runs 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Dress codeModest, comfortable clothing and good walking shoes; light woollens are advisable as it gets colder with altitude. Photography is not permitted inside the sanctum. Carry a photo ID with the Yatra Slip.
Best time to visitMarch to October is best; winter can be very cold with snow. Navratri is spectacular but extremely crowded.
NearbyBhairon Temple (about 2 km above the Bhawan), Ardh Kuwari Cave, and Shiv Khori cave (about 70 km from Katra).

How to reach

Katra, the base town, is about 42-50 km from Jammu; the trek to the Bhawan is about 13 km on a well-maintained path. Nearest railway station is Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities; nearest airport is Jammu (about 50 km). Options to ascend include walking, pony/palki, battery car, and helicopter to Sanjichhat (about an 8-minute flight) followed by a short walk.

Open in Google Maps Official website

Where this information comes from

Confidence: High. The 24-hour access, the sunrise/sunset-based (rather than fixed-clock-time) Aarti schedule, the roughly two-hour Aarti duration during which darshan is suspended, the mandatory free RFID Yatra Registration process, the 6-hour Banganga checkpost window, the approximately 30,000-35,000/day darshan capacity, the 'Waiting' phenomenon and the 9 AM-5 PM ropeway hours are all now confirmed directly from the Shrine Board's own official website (maavaishnodevi.org), verified live in September 2026.

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Frequently asked questions about Vaishno Devi Temple

What is the timing of Vaishno Devi Temple?

Vaishno Devi Temple: open 24 hours. Per the Shrine Board's own official website (maavaishnodevi.org), the Aarti is performed twice daily, just before sunrise and again immediately after sunset (not at a fixed clock time), and each takes nearly two hours, during which general darshan is suspended while maintenance work inside the cave is carried out. The aerial ropeway between the Bhawan and Bhairon Temple operates 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A mandatory, free Yatra Registration (RFID Yatra Access Card) must be obtained at the Yatri Registration Counter (YRC) near the Katra bus stand, or online, before starting the trek; a pilgrim must cross the first checkpost at Banganga within 6 hours of the card's issue or it is confiscated. Daily darshan capacity is roughly 30,000-35,000 pilgrims; when demand exceeds this the Shrine Board imposes 'Waiting' at Katra (no fresh registrations issued), most common on May/June weekends, the second half of December, and other school/office holiday periods.

What are the darshan (visiting) hours at Vaishno Devi Temple?

As published, morning darshan runs Open 24 hours and evening darshan runs Open 24 hours. Per the Shrine Board's own official website (maavaishnodevi.org), the Aarti is performed twice daily, just before sunrise and again immediately after sunset (not at a fixed clock time), and each takes nearly two hours, during which general darshan is suspended while maintenance work inside the cave is carried out. The aerial ropeway between the Bhawan and Bhairon Temple operates 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A mandatory, free Yatra Registration (RFID Yatra Access Card) must be obtained at the Yatri Registration Counter (YRC) near the Katra bus stand, or online, before starting the trek; a pilgrim must cross the first checkpost at Banganga within 6 hours of the card's issue or it is confiscated. Daily darshan capacity is roughly 30,000-35,000 pilgrims; when demand exceeds this the Shrine Board imposes 'Waiting' at Katra (no fresh registrations issued), most common on May/June weekends, the second half of December, and other school/office holiday periods.

Is there an entry fee at Vaishno Devi Temple?

Free darshan; Yatra registration (RFID Yatra Access Card) is mandatory and free, obtained at the Yatri Registration Counter in Katra or online via the Shrine Board. Pony, palki, porter, battery-car and helicopter services are chargeable; the aerial ropeway to Bhairon Temple runs 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.

What is the dress code at Vaishno Devi Temple?

Modest, comfortable clothing and good walking shoes; light woollens are advisable as it gets colder with altitude. Photography is not permitted inside the sanctum. Carry a photo ID with the Yatra Slip.

Which festivals are celebrated at Vaishno Devi Temple?

The main ones documented for this temple are Navratri (Chaitra and Sharad). See the festival table above for dates and what each involves.

What is the best time to visit Vaishno Devi Temple?

March to October is best; winter can be very cold with snow. Navratri is spectacular but extremely crowded.

How do I reach Vaishno Devi Temple?

Katra, the base town, is about 42-50 km from Jammu; the trek to the Bhawan is about 13 km on a well-maintained path. Nearest railway station is Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities; nearest airport is Jammu (about 50 km). Options to ascend include walking, pony/palki, battery car, and helicopter to Sanjichhat (about an 8-minute flight) followed by a short walk.

Who is the presiding deity at Vaishno Devi Temple?

Mata Vaishno Devi, worshipped in the form of three natural rock pindis representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati

What is the history of Vaishno Devi Temple?

The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta Hills of Jammu & Kashmir is one of the most revered and most visited pilgrimage sites in India, drawing millions of devotees each year.

How reliable is the information on this Vaishno Devi Temple page?

This listing's confidence is rated high. The 24-hour access, the sunrise/sunset-based (rather than fixed-clock-time) Aarti schedule, the roughly two-hour Aarti duration during which darshan is suspended, the mandatory free RFID Yatra Registration process, the 6-hour Banganga checkpost window, the approximately 30,000-35,000/day darshan capacity, the 'Waiting' phenomenon and the 9 AM-5 PM ropeway hours are all now confirmed directly from the Shrine Board's own official website (maavaishnodevi.org), verified live in September 2026.