Chandigarh to Katra (Vaishno Devi) Taxi
- 340 km
- ~7 hrs
- At actuals
About the drive
From Chandigarh there are two good roads to the Punjab–J&K border. One goes west through Kharar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar on NH-44. The other goes north-west through Ropar and Hoshiarpur and rejoins NH-44 near Dasuya. The driver picks one on the day based on traffic. Both meet before Pathankot, cross the Ravi at Madhopur, enter Jammu & Kashmir at Lakhanpur, and continue through Kathua and Samba and around Jammu to Katra. Expect about 7 hours.
There are two popular ways to time it. Leave at 3 or 4 am and you reach Katra by late morning, in time to collect the RFID yatra card, check in and start the climb in the afternoon. Or leave at night around 10 pm, reach Katra by early morning, and start straight away. In that case, make sure everyone sleeps in the car.
Breakfast is usually at Mukerian or Pathankot. There is a check post at Lakhanpur, so carry Aadhaar or another photo ID for every adult. You will need it again at the yatra registration counters.
Both Navratris, the New Year week and the summer school holidays are the busiest periods, and Katra hotels fill up early. Most families book a round trip, with the car staying in Katra during the trek. A one-way drop suits anyone going on to Jammu or Srinagar.
At a glance
- Distance
- 340 km
- Drive time
- ~7 hrs
- Tolls & parking
- Tolls in Punjab and J&K and parking at Katra are paid at actuals. Round trips add driver allowance for each night.
- Popular for
- Mata Vaishno Devi yatra, Navratri and New Year darshan, overnight yatra drives
- Return trip
- Katra (Vaishno Devi) to Chandigarh costs the same one-way fare. Round trips with waiting are quoted on WhatsApp.
Questions about this route
Can we travel overnight and reach Katra by morning?
Yes. A 10 pm departure reaches Katra around 5 to 6 am. For night drives, we plan for a rested driver; ask about any night-driving charge when you book.
Will the driver wait in Katra while we do the yatra?
Yes, on a round-trip booking. The car stays in Katra during the climb and brings you back after darshan. A driver allowance is added for each night, and we share the total on WhatsApp before you confirm.
What documents do we need for the J&K border and the yatra?
Carry Aadhaar or another photo ID for every adult. IDs can be checked at the Lakhanpur post, and the RFID yatra card is issued against the same ID. The vehicle permit and papers are our responsibility.
Can we add Shiv Khori or the Jammu temples?
Yes. Shiv Khori is a separate day trip from Katra, and on the way back you can stop at the Raghunath Mandir and Bawe Wali Mata in Jammu. Each add-on changes the kilometres, so we quote it as a round trip.
Book your Katra (Vaishno Devi) taxi
Send the date, pickup address and number of passengers. You get the confirmed fare and car on WhatsApp.