Upon arrival at Jammu Tawi Railway Station, you will be driven to Katra, the base camp for Vaishnavdevi. Once you reach Katra, you will start your journey to the holy shrine. The trek to Bhawan takes around 4-6 hours, depending on your pace. En route to Bhawan, you will come across several places such as Banganga, Charan Paduka, and Adkuwari. You can take a break and enjoy the scenic beauty and have lunch at Adkuwari. Once you reach Bhawan, you will get to pay your respects to Maa Vaishno Devi.
After darshan at the holy shrine, you can visit the Shiv Khori cave temple, which is 75 km from Katra. The Shiv Khori cave is a mystical and ancient cave dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will come across several beautiful sceneries while traveling to Shiv Khori. After spending some time at Shiv Khori, you can drive towards Patnitop, which is 45 km from Shiv Khori. Patnitop is a hill station surrounded by lush greenery. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery and snow-capped mountains while sipping hot tea and enjoying local cuisine.
If you want to visit the Vaishno Devi temple again, you can start early and complete your darshan. After darshan, you can visit Baba Dhansar, which is 17 km from Katra. Baba Dhansar is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, and it is believed that it is the place where Lord Shiva performed Tandav. You can also visit the local market and buy souvenirs to take home.
It is advisable to book your helicopter tickets and yatra parchi in advance to avoid any last-minute hassle. You can also visit Nau Devi Temple and Bhairo Baba Temple if you have extra time. Don't forget to carry warm clothes as the temperature can drop to minus degrees. It is recommended to carry a medical kit with you and stay hydrated throughout the journey.