Amritsar and Vaishno Devi

Days 1 to 2: Amritsar

2 nights · Easy · Punjab's holy city, home of the Golden Temple and close to the Wagah border with Pakistan.

Day 1: Amritsar

• Visit the Golden Temple early in the morning and eat at the langar.
• Walk to Jallianwala Bagh next door.
• Spend late morning at the Partition Museum in the Town Hall.
• Lunch on kulcha and lassi in the old city lanes.
• Return to the Golden Temple after dark to see it lit up.

Day 2: Amritsar

• Start at Durgiana Temple.
• See the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum in Ram Bagh.
• Walk around Gobindgarh Fort before lunch.
• Leave by about 2 pm for the Wagah (Attari) Border ceremony, stopping at Ram Tirath on the way if time allows.
• Return to the city for dinner.

Getting here from Amritsar: Train or road via Jammu to Katra, about 5 to 6 hours. About 270 km by road.

Days 3 to 5: Vaishno Devi (Katra)

2 nights · Moderate · Hill cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta Hills, reached by a 12-13 km trek from Katra.

Day 3: Arrival day

• Travel from Amritsar to Vaishno Devi (about 5 to 6 hours).
• Register and collect the RFID yatra card.
• Afternoon trip to Baba Dhansar.
• Early night before the trek.

Day 4: Vaishno Devi

• Start early and walk past Banganga.
• Stop at Charan Paduka Temple.
• Rest at Ardhkuwari and visit the Garbh Joon cave.
• Continue via Sanjichhat to the Bhawan for darshan.
• Stay overnight in Shrine Board rooms at Bhawan.

Day 5: Vaishno Devi

• Take the ropeway to Bhairon Temple.
• Walk down to Katra.
• Rest and leave Katra by evening train or bus.