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Navratri will begin on October 11, 2026, and many devotees are expected to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir during the festival. Located in the Trikuta Hills at an altitude of around 5,200 feet, the shrine can be reached after a 13-km trek from Katra.
Vaishno Devi Yatra 2026
For travellers from Delhi, Katra is the nearest railway station to the shrine. The distance between Delhi and Katra is around 650 km. Several trains connect the national capital with Katra. The Vande Bharat Express (22439/22477) takes around 8 hours and 20 minutes. Other train options include Malwa SF Express (12919), Swaraj Express (12471), Shalimar Malini Express (14661), and Jammu Mail (20433).
Another option is the New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express (12425), which reaches Jammu in about 8 hours and 20 minutes. From Jammu, passengers can take a bus or cab to Katra. Since train timings may change during the festive season, travellers should check the latest schedule on the Indian Railways website before booking. The journey from Delhi to Vaishno Devi can take between 8 and 14 hours, depending on the train and onward travel.
If you are looking for a quicker option, you can take a flight from Delhi to Jammu that takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. From Jammu Airport, travellers need to hire a taxi to reach Katra.
Bus travel is another option, with the journey from Delhi to Katra taking approximately 14 hours. Travellers can also divide the journey by stopping at Ludhiana before continuing to Katra by train. Another alternative is to travel by flight or train to Srinagar and then proceed towards Katra.
With Navratri attracting a large number of devotees, planning and ticket bookings are advisable.