Guide to visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple
Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest religious places for Hindus. Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine each year. It is also very popular with people who are in Jammu for some business and have an extra day or 2 to travel.
Jammu to Katra is one of the most travelled routes. As a cab company, this means we frequently meet with a lot of people who are experiencing this unique journey.
To make your journey even better, we have compiled a list of the most common questions that are asked.
Are cell phones allowed in Vaishno Devi temple?
Mobile phones as well as leather goods or other electronic devices are not allowed in Vaishno Devi temple as a rule.
That does not mean that your stuff is unsafe. There is a cloak room where you can store valuable items.
In case you are a part of a large group, you can also leave your belongings with the group members and collect them later after you have done Darshan.
Where to stay when visiting Vaishno Devi?
In the main Bhavan complex as well as in Gauri and Vaishnavi Bhavan, there are several rooms for both small as well as large groups to sleep in.
You can also stay at Manokamna Bhavan complex.
Apart from that, down the hill there are several hotels and guest houses in Katra. You can choose whatever you like as per your budget and requirements.
Is there a ropeway in Vaishno Devi?
Very close to the Vaishno Devi temple is the famous Bhaironath Temple. The trek to the temple is actually difficult and can be very hard for seniors as the climbers are quite steep.
To make this easier there is a ropeway that has been installed between Vaishno Devi Shrine and Bhaironath Mandir. This reduces the time required to reach Bhaironath Mandir from one hour walking to just 5 minutes on the ropeway.
What time does Darshan take place at Vaishno Devi?
There are two times in the day when Darshan takes place in Vaishno Devi. The first is early in the morning from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the afternoon.
The second period after that you can do darshan is from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
What is the Aarti timing at Vaishno Devi?
Bhartiya Vaishno Devi is a very beautiful site to see. It is also the time when there is the most crowd near the Shrine. The Arti takes place at two different times, just before sunrise and just before sunset.
How much time will it take me to climb to Vaishno Devi?
The Climb from the base to the top of the Shrine is not very steep. However it can be a little difficult for older people and people with infirmities to climb in case you cannot walk to the top.
You can take the help of several horses and porters that will charge to take you to the Shrine. It means that the time taken to reach the top of Vaishno Devi depends on your fitness.
It also depends on how fast you actually want to reach. That is because there are a lot of things that you can do before reaching the top. There are several places where you can eat different kinds of things. There are also several small shops along the route where you can buy artefacts of religious importance.
If we take into consideration the maximum time, most people are able to complete the track within 8-9 hours. If you are in a hurry,it can be completed in as little as 5 hours.
What should I wear when I go to Vaishno Devi?
The choice of clothing that you wear when going to Vaishno Devi depends totally on what time you are going. It can be quite chilly in the winter, so wearing a sweater is recommended.
In case you are going sometime in December or January you may need to wear extra layers for protection.
For the rest of the year you can pretty much wear comfortable clothing, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be very warm. As you will be climbing up a hill, it is recommended that you always wear breathable and comfortable clothing.