Katra: In a spiritually significant development for devotees, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has officially reopened the historic Natural Cave (Prachin Gufa) for darshan. The reopening coincides with the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, marking a new beginning for pilgrims visiting the Trikuta Hills this week.
January 15, 2026 has seen a surge in enthusiasm among yatris, as this original cave is typically kept closed for most of the year and is only made accessible during the winter months of January and February, when the pilgrim rush is comparatively lower.
Status: OPEN as of mid-January 2026 (subject to crowd management and Shrine Board decisions).
Duration: The Natural Cave is usually accessible during January and February, but the exact duration each year depends on crowd levels and Shrine Board orders.
Why Is the Natural Cave Special?
The Natural Cave is the original route through which devotees traditionally had darshan of the Holy Pindies. It is regarded as the path associated with Mata Vaishno Devi’s original manifestation at the shrine.
Due to the very narrow passage and the risk of congestion, the Shrine Board keeps this route closed for most of the year, routing pilgrims instead through the newly constructed caves/sanctum. The annual reopening during the low-footfall winter period offers a limited-time, rare opportunity to experience darshan in the cave’s original form.
Rules for Darshan: Who Can Enter?
While the cave is open, entry is regulated and not guaranteed for every pilgrim. Shrine Board officials have outlined a crowd-management approach based on safety and capacity:
Capacity & Crowd Limit:
SMVDSB has said it will ensure strict adherence to permissible crowd capacity limits and maintain orderly movement. If the queue builds up excessively, authorities may temporarily divert pilgrims through the new tunnels instead of the Natural Cave.
Priority & Assistance:
The Shrine Board has introduced special provisions to assist elderly and differently-abled pilgrims, but due to the low-height, narrow passage, basic physical fitness is still required to crawl or bend through the cave.
Timings:
There is no publicly announced fixed daily time-table for the Natural Cave in 2026. SMVDSB has indicated that the cave is made accessible during January–February, and pilgrims are allowed through it depending on real-time crowd and safety conditions. In practice, darshan at the shrine operates almost round the clock in normal conditions, with brief breaks during the daily Aarti, but access to the Natural Cave itself may be paused temporarily whenever the rush is high.
Yatra Update: Helicopter & Battery Car Status
Helicopter Service (Katra–Sanjichhat):
Helicopter facilities between Katra and Sanjichhat are available as part of the regular Vaishno Devi Yatra services, with revised fares notified for 2025–26. However, during winter, dense fog and low visibility can lead to temporary suspensions or delays, as seen on some recent days this season. Pilgrims are advised to check the latest status on the official SMVDSB portal or with authorized operators before planning their chopper ride.
Battery Car Service (Adhkuwari–Bhawan):
Battery car services between Ardhkuwari (Adhkuwari) and Bhawan remain operational as a standard facility, subject to weather and route conditions. Latest fare information shows charges around ₹450 from Ardhkuwari to Bhawan and ₹300 for the return leg, with bookings handled through official or authorized channels.
Pilgrim Footfall (January 2026):
According to SMVDSB, the shrine is witnessing a significant increase in pilgrim numbers compared to last year. During the first 13 days of 2026, about 3,05,217 pilgrims visited the shrine, up from 2,68,761 during the same period in 2025, with 20,000–25,000 pilgrims visiting daily on average.
Key Highlights
- Event: Natural Cave (Prachin Gufa) reopened for devotees on Makar Sankranti (14 January 2026).
- Window: Typically accessible during January–February, subject to crowd and Shrine Board decisions.
- Condition: Entry to the Natural Cave depends on real-time crowd size and safety protocols; not every pilgrim is guaranteed passage.
FAQ Section
Yes. As of mid-January 2026, the Natural Cave was reopened on Makar Sankranti (14 January 2026) and is currently open for devotees, subject to real-time crowd conditions and Shrine Board instructions at the Bhawan.
No. There is no separate ticket or premium quota specifically for the Natural Cave. Entry is managed on the spot by Shrine Board staff and security personnel depending on queue length, safety, and capacity. Devotees use the same Yatra registration, RFID card, and services as other pilgrims.
The Vaishno Devi shrine operates for darshan almost round the clock in normal conditions, with brief breaks during the daily Aarti, and many pilgrims undertake the trek or darshan at night.
As of mid-January 2026, the Yatra is proceeding smoothly, but services (including the Natural Cave route and helicopters) can be temporarily suspended during extreme weather or safety advisories, as has happened on some occasions in the recent past. Pilgrims are advised to:
Check official updates from SMVDSB or trusted news sources before starting the trek.
Wear heavy woollens, as winter night temperatures at Bhawan can approach freezing and conditions can be windy and damp.
Stay tuned to KittoNews for daily Yatra updates from Katra, Bhawan, and the Trikuta Hills.
