Vaishno Devi Mandir Timings: Darshan, Aarti & Live Status (2026)

Yes. The Vaishno Devi yatra runs round the clock, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so there is no single opening or closing time for the shrine. What does change through the day is darshan at the Bhawan (the holy cave), which pauses for roughly two hours twice a day for the aarti: once in the morning around the Atka Aarti and once in the evening. Those pauses follow sunrise and sunset, so they shift a little between summer and winter. If you reach the Bhawan during an aarti break, the queue simply holds until darshan reopens. In heavy snow or a rare weather closure the Shrine Board may halt the climb, so check the live status on the day you travel.

Vaishno Devi darshan timings 2026: summer vs winter

The yatra itself is open 24x7 in both seasons. The only closed stretches are the two daily aarti breaks, and because they track sunrise and sunset they land at slightly different clock times through the year. Use the table as a planning guide and confirm the exact windows on the day.

Aarti windows are linked to sunrise and sunset and are set by the Shrine Board, so treat the times above as seasonal approximations. Snow between December and February can slow or briefly halt the upper track.

Aarti timings and the daily darshan break

Aarti is performed twice a day at the Bhawan, and darshan closes for the duration each time. The morning Atka Aarti takes place around sunrise (roughly 6:20 AM), and the evening aarti around sunset (roughly 7:20 PM). Each aarti, with the preparation before it, keeps the darshan queue paused for close to two hours. Plan your climb so you are not arriving at the cave right as a break begins. Early afternoon and late evening usually have the shortest waits outside Navratri.

Yatra registration: Parchi and the RFID access card (free)

You cannot start the climb without registering, and registration is free. There are two steps, and neither costs anything.

First, register: online at the Shrine Board portal, which gives you a Yatra Parchi, or in person at the registration counters in Katra. Second, the RFID Yatra Access Card, which you pick up in person at Katra by showing your online Parchi (or registering at the counter) and a photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN or a driving licence. Pilgrims are allowed towards the Bhawan only after they have the RFID card. Shrine Board rules require you to cross the first check post at Banganga within six hours of the card being issued, or the card lapses and you must register again, so collect it only when you are ready to set off. During Navratri and summer holidays the daily quota fills fast, so register online a few days ahead.

For the full breakdown of what each ride costs, see our Vaishno Devi entry fee and RFID card guide.

How to reach the Bhawan from Katra

The base camp is Katra, and the Bhawan is about a 13 km climb from there, past Banganga, Charan Paduka, Adhkuwari and Sanjhichhat. On foot the walk takes most pilgrims six to eight hours at a steady pace. If you would rather not walk the whole way, ponies, palki bearers and pithu porters work the track, battery cars run on the newer route between Adhkuwari and the Bhawan, and a helicopter flies Katra to Sanjhichhat in about eight minutes, leaving a walk of about 2.5 km to the cave. The passenger ropeway does not run on the Katra side; it links the Bhawan with Bhairon Ghati, above the cave. For the full route, transport and timing detail, see how to reach Vaishno Devi, and the full Vaishno Devi temple guide for the wider pilgrimage.

After darshan, most pilgrims carry on uphill to the Bhairon Nath temple, about 1.5 km above the Bhawan, on foot or by the Bhawan-Bhairon ropeway. Tradition holds that the yatra is complete only after this visit, so budget an extra hour or two for it.

Best time to visit Vaishno Devi

March to April and September to October give you the most comfortable weather for the climb, with mild days and clear views. October to November stays pleasant too, with little rain. Both Navratri periods (Chaitra in spring and Sharad in autumn) bring the biggest crowds and the longest queues, so go on either side of them if you want a calmer darshan. Katra summers from May to June are warm but manageable, and winters from December to February are cold with snow possible near the Bhawan. To pair the yatra with the rest of the region, start from our Jammu travel guide, or let a Vaishno Devi tour package handle registration, stay and transfers for you.

Ready to plan the yatra? Our travel experts can build a Vaishno Devi and Kashmir trip around your dates. Tell us your requirements here.

Edited by TravelTriangle. Timings on this page are checked by our Jammu travel desk against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board portal, maavaishnodevi.org, last updated October 2026.