Vaishno Devi trip—trains that will take you directly to Katra from Delhi

Perched at an altitude of 5200 ft, the Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India. Involving a trek of around 12 km from the base camp at Katra, people undertake the arduous journey to pay their obeisance. It has been estimated that the temple attracts almost one crore visitors annually.
Moreover, during summers, a number of tourists visiting the shrine almost turns double as families plan their trip along with their kids and relatives. Earlier, those going to Vaishno Devi had to travel by road from Jammu and Kashmir to the base camp in Katra. But now, direct trains are available till Katra, thanks to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

And to make the pilgrimage easier, here is a list of trains that will take you to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station from Delhi.
There are two superfast trains to take you directly to the Katra station—Uttar Sampark Kranti (12445) and Shri Shakti Express (22461). Available all days in a week, these trains will take 12 hours to take you to your destination.
Other direct trains to take you to the Katra station—Malwa Express (12919), Jammu Mail (14033), Swaraj Express (12471), and JBP SVDK Express (11449). While Jammu Mail and Malwa Express ply on the tracks all seven days in a week, JBP SVDK Express runs only on Tuesday, and Swaraj Express chugs on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

If you are planning to visit the shrine this summer, you can plan ahead and book a train ticket that will take you directly to your destination.