Vaishno Devi Darshan Timings 2026 — Bhawan Aarti Schedule & Yatra Hours

Bhawan Darshan Hours (General)

Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan is open for darshan almost 24 hours a day. The only two pauses in general darshan are for the morning aarti (roughly 5:00-7:00 am) and the evening aarti (roughly 6:30-8:30 pm). During these two windows the sanctum is reserved for Shrine Board aarti attendees. Once aarti concludes, general darshan restarts within minutes. In peak season (Navratri, summer holidays, weekends) actual queue-wait time from Bhawan entry to darshan varies 45 minutes to 4 hours.

Morning & Evening Aarti Schedule

The morning and evening aartis at Bhawan are the spiritual highlight of the yatra. Timings shift with the season: Summer (April-October): morning aarti ~5:00 am, evening aarti ~7:00 pm. Winter (November-March): morning aarti ~6:00 am, evening aarti ~6:00 pm. Aarti duration is roughly 2 hours each. Live streaming is broadcast on the official Shrine Board channel and the maiavaishnodevi.org website — useful if you're in transit and can't be inside during aarti.

Aarti Attendance — Free but Slot-Bookable

Sitting inside the Gufa (sanctum) during aarti is free but slot-limited (~150-200 devotees per aarti). Book online at maiavaishnodevi.org 30-60 days ahead of your visit — the calendar opens well in advance and Navratri slots go within hours. Walk-in aarti seating is only opened on very low-footfall days; don't count on it. If you don't have an aarti pass, the Bhawan courtyard and Darshni Deodi hall have big LED screens showing the aarti live.

Atka Yatra & Special Timings

Atka is the Shrine Board's controlled entry-and-exit protocol activated when footfall crosses ~35,000/day. Under Atka, RFID Yatra Parchi issuance may pause for a few hours to prevent overcrowding on the trek route. Check the Shrine Board's daily advisory (jkyatri.jk.gov.in) before your Katra departure. During Atka, expect wait times of 6-10 hours from Bhawan entry to darshan.

Bhairavnath Temple Timings (Important — Yatra Not Complete Without)

Bhairon Baba's temple, 2.5 km beyond Bhawan, is open 5:00 am to 9:30 pm approximately. Tradition holds that Vaishno Devi darshan is incomplete without Bhairavnath — most yatris trek up post-darshan. In winter, timings pull in slightly (7:00 am - 6:30 pm approx). The Bhairavnath ropeway (Manokamna) offers a faster round-trip; check ropeway hours separately.

Katra Registration Counter Timings

The Yatra Registration Counter (YRC) at Katra bus stand is open 24×7 and issues the free RFID Yatra Parchi. Online RFID registration on jkyatri.jk.gov.in can be done up to 60 days in advance. Without the RFID card you cannot cross the Banganga checkpoint — this is a hard rule since 2023. Carry photo ID matching the RFID registration name.

Best Time & Season Tips

Least-crowd months: mid-January to mid-March and mid-July to mid-August (rains keep footfall down). Highest-crowd months: Navratri (twice a year), May-June (summer holidays) and December-early January (winter break). For a 4-6 hour darshan target, start your Katra ascent by 3-4 am. For a peak-Navratri visit, be prepared for 10-14 hour end-to-end.

Frequently Asked Questions