The pilgrims' railhead
For decades, pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine took a train to Jammu Tawi and finished the journey by road. That changed on 4 July 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station (code SVDK) in the base town of Katra, at about 814 metres in Reasi district. Pilgrims can now step off a train from Delhi or across India and begin the trek to the shrine in the Trikuta hills the same day.
Built for pilgrims
There are 5 platforms and facilities planned for large crowds: escalators, lifts, eight retiring rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, an air-conditioned hotel and parking. In March 2015 a 1 MW solar power plant was commissioned at the station. It belongs to Northern Railway's Jammu division.
The line to Kashmir
Katra is now more than a terminus. It lies on the Jammu–Baramulla line, the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link, which pushes through some of the most difficult terrain ever crossed by a railway. Beyond Katra, trains run through Reasi and over the Chenab Rail Bridge:
| Chenab Rail Bridge | Figure |
|---|---|
| Height above river bed | 359 m, the highest rail bridge in the world |
| Total length | 1,315 m |
| Main arch span | 467 m |
| Designed to withstand | Winds up to 266 km/h and magnitude-8 earthquakes |
| Opened to regular traffic | 6 June 2025 |
On 6 June 2025, the same day the bridge opened, a pair of Vande Bharat trains between Katra and Srinagar was inaugurated, linking the Kashmir Valley to the national network by rail for the first time.
Long trains from Katra
Katra is also the northern end of the Himsagar Express to Kanniyakumari, one of the longest train journeys in India, which used to start from Jammu Tawi. Many Delhi trains now run through to Katra; see our train schedule page.
Starting the yatra
- Yatra registration is required before the trek; counters are in Katra town.
- Expect security checks at the station, and very large crowds during Navratri.