Vaishno Devi Weather: Best Time to visit

Last Updated on January 2, 2022 by asoulwindow

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Weather in Vaishno Devi

The famous Vaishno Devi Mandir is located in Jammu in North India, which means weather in Vaishno Deviis pleasant most of the parts of the year.I have been to Vaishno Devi temple twice; once in August and second time in November.

Mata Vaishno Devi weather was very pleasant when I visited the Hindu shrine in the last week of November and August. So, is it a good time to visit Vaishno Devi? Let’s find out!

This handy travel guide will help you plan your trip to Vaishno Devi by helping you choose the best time to visit Vaishno Devi, based on my personal experience. Wondering what is the best time to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Temple? And if there is snow in Katra and Vaishno Devi? Read on!

Sunny weather at Mata Vaishno Devi. Pic by Ayan Mukherjee

Altitude of Mata Vaishno Devi

Katra town has an average elevation of only 875 metres or 2,474 feet above sea level where as the Bhawan of Mata Vaishno Devi is located at an altitude of 5200 feet or 1,584 meters above sea level. This is why, the weather in Vaishno Devi Bhawan is different from weather in Katra. While the temperature of Vaishno Devi ji is lower in a said period, the temperature of Katra will be warmer during the same time.

Therefore, it will be misleading to accept the temperature at Vaishno Devi ji same as temperature of Katra. The Katra weather will always be somewhat warmer than the Mata Vaishno Devi temperature.

For example, even at the peak of summer, the Bhawan area of Mata Vaishno Devi has pleasant weather and low temperature when compared to the weather of Katra.

Weather of Vaishno Devi in Spring

The Spring months of March and April are for those who want a respite from trekking in snow, rain, harsh sun or extreme cold. The temperature of Vaishno Devi in Spring is moderate and pleasant. Enjoy the moderate climate as you hike up in what is one of the best times to visit Vaishno Devi.

Vaishno Devi weather in Summer

The months of March, April, May and June are summers in Vaishno Devi. It is actually the low season due to the extreme heat, especially in May and June. This is when the climate in Vaishno Devi is the hottest.

The days can be very hot akin to a furnace but the evenings are cooler. Since the temperature dips a little during the night, it is advised to carry light woollens with you in summer as well. If you want to avoid the rush in crowd, then you can visit Vaishno Devi in summers to.

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Pls note that since Vaishno Devi Bhawan is located higher than its base Katra, it is colder up there. So do carry woollens caps, gloves, windcheaters etc when you go there.

Weather in Vaishno Devi in Monsoon

Mid-June, July, August and September are the wettest months of Vaishno Devi. The best thing about traveling to Vaishno Devi is that you get to see voluptuous waterfalls falling from the verdant mountains. As you hike up, the views of lush green forests sooth the eyes. Depending upon your luck, you might experience medium to high rainfall in Vaishno Devi.

Natural beauty apart, the risk factor of traveling here in rains includes frequent mudslides which happen in monsoon. Therefore, some people avoid visiting here during rainy months. This is also why it is off season or low season in Vaishno Devi. You can get very good deals as most hotels are available at low costs during monsoon.

It is thus a great time for budget travellers as it is raining offers and discounts during monsoon months. Needless to say, you must carry windcheaters, umbrellas and raincoats when visiting Vaishno Devi in July, August and September.

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However, if you are scared of the hassle of walking up, exposed to rains then you need not worry. The thoughtful authorities at Vaishno Devi have laid down tin roofs throughout the walking route of the temple. This means that you will always be protected from rain, snow and sun without missing out on the breath-taking panoramic views of the valley below.

Weather in Vaishno Devi in Winter

Contrary to popular belief, many people actually love to visit Vaishno Devi in winters months of December and January despite the harsh climate conditions. Some travel here in winter for the hope of snow while others for cooler climate, which makes the trekking easy. I have done high altitude treks such as Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, Poonhill Trek in Nepal, Roopkund Trek in Nepal and Dodital Darwa Pass trek in Uttarakhand.

During all of these treks I had experienced snow in one form or the other. Despite the sub-zero level temperature, it was very comfortable to trek. So, if I could do those, the trek to Vaishno Devi was much easier.

Unlike the high altitude treks I mentioned, you will get all modern amenities, restaurants and clean washroom, throughout your hike to Vaishno Devi. So do not think too much about visiting Vaishno Devi in winter.

Despite the low temperature and harsh weather in Vaishno Devi in winter, especially in December and January, it is quite popular time to visit. In case you are scared of walking in snow, rest assured, a tin roof will be your permanent companion, protecting you from the elements.

Weather of Vaishno Devi in Autumn

Indian autumn fall in October and November. It is actually a great time to plan a trip to Vaishno Devi. Thanks to the many festivals that falls in October and November, autumn is also the peak season of Vaishno Devi.

It is only in Mata Vaishno Devi that you will see thousands and lakhs of people chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’ with an infectious positive energy. The festive fervour displayed by common people during Navratri is an experience in itself. Nowhere else will you see something like this ever! Vaishno Devi weather also is good during this time.

Diwali or Deepawali, the biggest festival of India, also often falls either in October or November. However, since most people celebrate Diwali at home, therefore expect less crowd in Vaishno Devi during and after Deepawali. This is the most popular and best season to visit Vaishno Devi.

What is the best time to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Temple?

Such is the faith of Hindus that they actually do not care about the weather in Vaishno Devi while planning this famous Hindu pilgrimage of high religious significance.

Also, since the entire stretch is shaded with tin roofs, you need not worry about the sun or rain or snow making your yatra difficult. The proactive authorities at Vaishno Devi have left no stones unturned to make your journey as hassle free as possible.

Which month is good for Vaishno Devi?

In my experience, for most Hindu devotees the best time to visit Vaishno Devi is every time. Be it any month, you will always hear the pilgrims enthusiastically chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’ as they walk up to Bhawan. However, if you still want to choose the months with best weather in Vaishno Devi, you must read this Vaishno Devi travel guide. You can also read my other comprehensive blogs on Mata Vaishno Devi on A Soul Window – The No. 1 travel blog of India. This travel blog has also been awarded as the best Indian travel blog numerous times.

Here is a guide to the worst and best weather in Katra Vaishno Devi Mata. `

The bright sunny weather of Mata Vaishno Devi. Pic by: Ayan Mukherjee

January in Vaishno Devi Mata

Apart from December, January is another extreme winter month in Jammu. The temperature of Vaishno Devi reaches its lowest in January. But Jammu being a great winter destination in its own league, is a pleasure to visit in January.

You can avoid visiting Vaishno Devi on 26^th January as it is Republic Day of India. Hindus from all corners of India throng Vaishno Devi on Republic Day. Expect long lines, huge crowds and scarcity of good hotels.

The climate in Vaishno Devi can be very cold and misty in January. Snowfall can also happen during the visit. Isn’t it a great idea to visit Vaishno Devi in extreme winter and enjoy the combination of spirituality and snowfall? However, snowfall is not guaranteed. It may happen or may not. Many people visit Vaishno Dham again and again to try their luck at seeing snowfall here.

Best time for Vaishno Devi darshan is in early morning. However, this can be a bit difficult for those who are sensitive to cold or are just plain lazy.

February in Mata Vaishno Devi

February is quite moderate in Jammu with cool night and comfortable days. You can consider a trip in February as well. During January and February, devotees can access the original ancient path to get darshan of the Pindis or Maa, given that number of Hindu devotees hover around 10,000 per day. This path was closed and a new path was opened because of heavy crowds 365 days a year.

It is a good time to visit Vaishno Devi.

March in Mata Vaishno Devi

The pleasant spring season of March makes it one of the best months to visit Vaishno Devi. The cool breeze, perfect temperature and a certain je ne sais quoi positivity in the air makes it worth traveling to Maa Vaishno Devi in March. It is also the right time to visit Vaishno Devi.

You may expect large crowds at Vaishno Devi during Holi, which is the festival of colors. Holi is one of the biggest Hindu festivals of India.

April in Vaishno Devi Mata

April too is counted as spring in Jammu. Do visit for nice weather in Mata Vaishno Devi. It can get hot and tiring in noon though. Vaishno Devi weather fluctuates a lot in April month.

May in Mata Vaishno Devi

May is when summer starts to knock on the door. This is when temperature at Vaishno Devi begins to see an upward climb. I would personally avoid. You can still book an easy helicopter ride though, if you have made up your mind to visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji in this month.

June in Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

June is the hottest month of not just Jammu but most of India. I personally avoid traveling to plains in these months. Mata Vaishno Devi temperature is very high in June.

I once travelled across Bihar, visiting ancient historical places such as Nalanda University, Rajgir, Patna and Bodhgaya.

It was definitely not the best time to travel, except the delicious mangoes (a summer special in India) which I picked from the road side carts.

July in Mata Vaishno Devi ji

Expect lots of rains. Such is the scheme of nature that after suffering extreme heat of June, humans are gifted with extreme incessant rains. Vaishno Devi is no exception! Expect low costs, mudslides, less crowds but breath-taking views of azure skies and verdant mountains, waterfalls and what not! This is why Vaishno Devi weather in July is not suitable for travel.

August in Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir

I visited Vaishno Devi during the month of August and it was quite pleasant. I made a stop at Mata Vaishno Devi before proceeding to Pashupati Nath Temple in Nepal and the epic Hindu pilgrimage known as Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet. It was a journey of a lifetime.

I wore just a plain T Shirt and Jeans in August. The weather in Vaishno Devi in August was neither too hot nor too cold. Nor was it raining in Vaishno Devi during my visit here in August. I personally found August to be one of the best times to visit Vaishno Devi Temple.

September in Mata Vaishno Devi temple

The weather of Vaishno Devi is tolerable in the month of September. Expect sunny days and cool mornings and evenings. Weather in Vaishno Devi Bhawan in September month is great, in fact!

October in Katra, Mata Vaishno Devi

October is when summer in Mata Vaishno Devi is finally fading away and the weather progress towards cooler climes of winter. Temperature in Vaishno Devi Mata is quite pleasant in October; therefore, you can consider a trip to Vaishno Devi Dham in October. This is also considered best time to go Vaishno Devi by many.

November in Mata Vaishno Devi, Jammu

My second visit to Vaishno Devi was in the month of November. November is just the onset of winters in Vaishno Devi and elsewhere in North India. To my surprise, weather in Vaishno Devi was not very cold in November. There was a certain pleasant nip in the air, which made our small evening walks in the markets of Katra pleasurable.

I would definitely recommend November as the best time to pay a visit to Vaishno Devi Temple. Even the early morning chadai(climb), we did during November was pleasant. It did get sunny while returning but it was still pleasurable.

And you can anyways book shared vehicles for some distance during the climb up and down the Vaishno Devi Temple. Mata Vaishno Devi temperature during November was very tolerable.

November is also one of my favourite months to visit destinations in North India. It is in fact one of the best months to visit Vaishno Devi.

December in Mata Vaishno Devi

December is extreme winter in VAishno Devi but still pleasurable. Once your pace of walking sets, you do not feel frozen as the body warms up to the climb. December is also when you can expect to eat many winter delicacies such as Gajar ka halwa, Makke Ki Roti and Sarso Ka Saag in Katra. Even the omnipresent Gulab Jamun tastes better in winters.

Expect foggy Mata Vaishno Devi weather during early morning. Snowfall can also happen in Vaishno Devi area in December. The board even provides blankets for a nominal security deposit which is refundable. These are available at the resting halls during winters in Katra.

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Did you know there are free resting places near Bhawan? Thanks to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrin Board, you can now rest at the waiting halls such as Manokamana Bhawan, Saraswati Bhawan etc while awaiting your turn at darshan. You do not need to make any bookings to secure a spot here. It is subject to availability.

Visiting Mata Vaishno Devi during festivals?

Expect lots of crowds in Vaishno Devi on weekends, long weekends, public holidays such as Christian New Year, Christmas, Dussehra, Independence Day, Republic Day and major Hindu festivals such as Navratras. Mata Vaishno Devi weather is also pleasant during these festivals. All the Hindu festivals occur when the weather and temperature are pleasant.

Does Katra have snow?

Yes, it does snow in Katra during the winter months. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir looks even more beautiful during snowfall. It is one of the very few pilgrimage centres of such immense significance which receives heavy snowfall win winter months.

If you want to target visiting snowfall, then January is the best time to visit Vaishno Devi Mandir. That said, snowfall is not a daily phenomenon. Snowfall in Maa Vaishno Devi can happen on some day and might not happen on others. But when it happens, it is one of a kind of experiences.

You do not need to worry about walking in open air during snowfall. The entire walking route of Vaishno Devi has tin roof, which protects you from the elements viz. snow, sun, rain etc while offering sweeping bird’s eye view of the dense forests at the same time. Many people travel to Vaishno Devi every year hoping for snowfall. While some succeed, many don’t.

In which month there is snowfall in Vaishno Devi Temple?

Snowfall happens in Vaishno Devi in the months of December and January. It is an offbeat and charming time to make a journey to Vaishno Devi in these months.

Also pack in lots of woollens, monkey cap, gloves and windcheaters as the temperature of Vaishno Devi might dip to sub-zero levels, especially during the night and early morning. Weather in Vaishno Devi Bhawan during this time is very unpredictable.

Mostly, young, fit and enthusiastic people prefer the months of January and December for a hike to the revered Vaishno Devi Mandir. It is a unique experience to have Darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi during these months. You can expect snowfall at both Katra as well as Bhawan. Be prepared for the low Mata Vaishno Devi temperature.

Vaishno Devi temperature

As we have discussed above, Vaishno Devi temperature varies from season to season. While the Mata Vaishno Devi temperature can sore above bearable level in summers, the temperatures in Mata Vaishno in monsoon is low. However, expect Vaishno Devi temperature to dip below zero degrees Celsius during extreme cold months such as December and January.

Where to stay in Katra

There are several stay options in and around Katra. From INR 100 per day dormitories to INR 10,000 per day suites in 5-star luxury hotels, you will find a hotel for all budgets in Katra. Most of the hotels are located at walking distance from the vibrant Katra market. I prefer that as a walk here in the evening is very pleasant.

I recommend staying at the clean and comfortable accommodation facilitated by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. These hotels are available at below places:

Jammu: Saraswati Dham, close to railway station, Kalika Dham and Vaishnavi Dham.

Katra: Ashirwad Bhawan, Niharika Yatri Niwas and Shakti Bhawan.

You may book a reservation with them here.

Contact

Their Contact Details for enquiry and reservation are as below:

Address:

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra

Shakti Bhawan, Niharika Complex, Near the bus station.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01991-234053

I stayed in the luxurious Lemon Tree hotel. They have a huge lobby and nice spacious rooms. My rooms had views of Katra Railway Station. The only flipside is that you need to take a cab to Katra which is not located at a walking distance, which I mostly prefer!

How to reach at Katra

You can arrive at Katra via multiple options.

By Air: I arrived at Katra from Jammu international airport (IXJ). There are many security checks here so be prepared to become restless during the routine checks.

By Railways: On a tight budget and want to save money. Just book a sleeper class train ticket to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station (station code: SVDK). It is located very close to the Katra market. It is the most cost-effective way to travel to Vaishno Mata.

By Bus: Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation run many buses that ply between Jammu and Katra. These are another low-cost transport option.

By Road Trip: You can self-drive your car or hire a cab from Jammu to Katra and back for a low cost. On my second rip, I and my college friends Amit Manral and Kavita, drove all the way from Ghaziabad, took a break at a relative’s home at Phagwara in Punjab.

To save our energy, we hired a cab from Phagwara to Katra and back to Phagwara. We stayed for few more days in Phagwara to recuperate from all the walking and headed back to Ghaziabad by self-drive. Try this. It’s fun! And the Rajma Chawal and Chola Bhaturas you get on highway dhabas are heavenly.

Cost: The cost of our cab Toyota Platinum Etios was INR 7,000 for a round trip. For bigger cars, the charges go up to INR 10,000 for a round trip from Phagwara to Katra to Phagwara. Weather in Vaishno Devi Bhawan and season also plays a role in cost.

Conclusion: What is the best time to visit Mata Vaishno Devi

The beauty of Vaishno Devi is that, no matter which month of time you choose to travel here, it will surprise you with a different climate. If traveling here in rains is an experience itself, then summer is no less different. Mata Vaishno Devi temperature will be different in both the seasons.

While traveling here during festivals will brush upon you an infectious energy, hiking up the path during snow is what many people hope for. So ideally, there is nothing like an off-season month in Vaishno Devi. People still come here in hordes despite the odds. Do not worry too much about the perfect Vaishno Devi weather and head here when you think is the right time.

The view from my Soul Window has great weather!

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