In a major update aimed at enhancing pilgrim safety and easing crowd movement, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has introduced new timing rules for devotees undertaking the Vaishno Devi yatra.
Under the updated guidelines, every pilgrim must complete online registration and obtain an RFID travel card before beginning the journey to the holy cave shrine. Once issued, the RFID card must be activated by starting the trek within 12 hours. Crucially, pilgrims are now required to return to the base camp in Katra within 24 hours of commencing the yatra a deadline not previously enforced.
This is the first time such a return time limit has been imposed. Earlier, while the RFID card needed to be activated within 12 hours of issuance, there was no prescribed duration for completing the pilgrimage.
The Shrine Board explained that the new regulations are designed to improve crowd management, particularly as the festive season and New Year period approach, when footfall typically surges. The board noted that three to four days before New Year historically see a sharp rise in visitors, leading to congestion on the tracks and around the shrine complex.
Officials said the revised time limits will help reduce overcrowding, speed up emergency responses during illness or sudden weather changes, and lower the risk of cold‑related health issues for pilgrims. The rules apply uniformly across all modes of travel on the route including traditional trekking paths, helicopter services, and battery‑operated vehicles.
To facilitate smoother travel planning, the Board has set up a registration centre at Katra railway station, open until midnight, to assist devotees with the mandatory online registration process.
Shrine Board officials emphasized that the measure is not intended to restrict the spiritual experience, but to ensure a safer and more organized pilgrimage for all travelers, especially during the peak holiday season.
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