వైష్ణోదేవి యాత్ర హెలికాప్టర్‌లో — 3 రోజులు

Arrival at Katra (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station or by road from Jammu) and transfer to a 3★ hotel near the base camp. The Hindi-speaking ground host meets the group for a settling-in and briefing. The afternoon is given to two practical tasks that the Shrine Board now requires of every pilgrim — the RFID Yatra Parchi at the SMVDSB counter (the digital pilgrim registration that has replaced the old paper slip and is now mandatory for entry beyond Banganga) and a heli briefing covering the next morning's reporting time at Katra helipad, baggage limits, weight policy, and weather contingencies. A quiet evening, an early dinner, and rest.

An early start. Pick-up from the hotel and reporting at Katra helipad. The SMVDSB helicopter lifts off for Sanjichhat — an eight-minute flight over the Trikuta foothills that gains in those few minutes what the foot-route gains in five to eight hours of climb. From Sanjichhat, a 2.5 km walk down to the Bhawan (battery-vehicle assistance available on the paved stretch where needed). At the Bhawan, the host coordinates the darshan queue for the three Pindis — Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati — the natural rock-forms in which Mata is worshipped. After darshan, the traditional Bhairon Mandir add: about two kilometres above the Bhawan stands the shrine of Bhairon Nath, without which the Vaishno Devi yatra is by tradition considered incomplete — reached on foot, by pony, or by the SMVDSB ropeway from the Bhawan (about three minutes each way, ₹100 round trip). Return to Sanjichhat helipad and the helicopter back to Katra. Evening at leisure at the hotel.

A relaxed final morning. After breakfast and check-out, an optional visit to the Devi Pindi Mata Mandir near Panthal — about 9 km from Katra by road and then a walk of roughly 2.5 km up to the shrine, where Mata is said to have rested before continuing the climb to Trikuta — for those who have the morning and the legs for one more darshan. The host accompanies the group to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station or onward bus stand for the return journey. Departure with the prasad and blessings of Mata Rani.