Katra: In view of an unprecedented surge in devotees during the New Year period, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has revised the yatra guidelines, tightening rules for both ascent and descent to ensure safety, prevent overcrowding and improve crowd management.
Under the revised rules, pilgrims must commence their yatra within 10 hours of obtaining the RFID travel card. After darshan at the Bhawan, devotees are required to return to the Katra base camp within 24 hours. The new guidelines have come into effect immediately. Earlier, there were no strict time limits, and many pilgrims stayed near the Bhawan for several days, leading to congestion and movement difficulties on the track.
The 13-kilometre journey from Katra to the Bhawan can be undertaken on foot, by horse, pitthu, battery car or helicopter. On foot, the uphill trek usually takes 6 to 8 hours, while the overall pilgrimage under normal conditions takes 24 to 36 hours, extending up to 48 hours during peak rush.
The Shrine Board said mandatory online registration will continue, with the registration centre at Katra railway station remaining open till midnight. Officials stated that the new rules will help reduce congestion, ensure quicker emergency response, and make the yatra safer, especially for women, children and elderly devotees.
