The Vaishno Devi Bhawan is open to devotees 365 days a year, and the Bhawan's governing body has made the trek possible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The entire trekking path is illuminated for devotees. The dazzling illuminated path can be seen from the Katra bus stop. There are numerous stalls along the trekking path that sell food, refreshments, tea, drinking water, medical aid, comfortable sitting benches, toilets, and so on. At regular intervals, there are also police checkpoints. At the start of the trek, at the Banganga checkpoint, luggage and security checks are performed. The trek can be completed by horses, which can cover half of the distance.

The helicopter services to Vaishnodevi are very popular, and they provide tourists with a beautiful ride through the clouds to the temple. The service takes approximately 8 minutes from the foothills of the Katra to Sanjhichatti. The temple is about 2.5 kilometres from the Sanjhichatti helipad. A single flight can accommodate 5 to 6 passengers, and each one-way ticket costs INR 1730, while the round-trip fare costs INR 3460 per passenger. Tickets can be purchased at heli-ticket counters, where valid ID and travel documents must be presented. Tickets are also available for purchase online (https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/login.aspx).

Maa Vaishno Devi's aarti is performed twice a day, before sunrise and after sunset, and is a sight to behold. The aarti is performed by the designated priests inside the sanctum sanctorum and then outside the main cave after self-purification. After bathing in milk, water, honey, ghee, and sugar, the goddess is dressed in a saree and jewellery. The prasad is then offered to the goddess, and the aarti is performed. Following that, the pooja thaali (plate) is carried from the sanctum to the mouth of the holy cave. All the yatris (pilgrims) here witness the divine Jyoti (lamp) and are given prasad and holy water by the priests. The aarti takes about 2 hours to perform and is the most anticipated time for Maa Vaishno Devi's darshan.

Traditional Maa Vaishno Devi offerings include chunari (red stole), saree, ornaments, dry fruits, and flowers. The chunari is the most sacred of these, and most yatris are seen with a chunari tied on their forehead throughout the pilgrimage.

Restricted Products
Sweets and food are not permitted inside the holy cave, so do not purchase them.
Inside the holy cave, it is forbidden to break a coconut. It can, however, be deposited at a counter in the main waiting room in exchange for a token. Following the darshan, the coconut can be reclaimed from a counter near the cave's exit.

Donations
Cash donations should be placed in the sealed donation boxes located throughout the city. Do not give any cash donations to the priests.
Donation counters have also been set up throughout Katra to accept donations in the form of cheques and draughts.

Souvenirs
The Shrine Board has set up souvenir shops at the Bhawan, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat, Katra bus stand, and Vaishnavi Dham (Jammu). The offerings for the Goddess are available at these shops for a very low cost. As souvenirs, devotees can purchase photos of Maa Vaishno Devi, bangles, sarees, chunari, and other items from these shops.

Many restaurants along the yatra route are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will be served food that is devoid of onion and garlic. There are also shrine board bhojanalayas (including one at Ardhkuwari). Coffee, tea, Maggi, and simple Indian dishes such as Rajma Chawla are available. Ardhkuwari has a Sagar Ratna restaurant.

March-July is the best time to visit Vaishno Devi because it is not too cold and it does not rain as much. Vaishno Devi, on the other hand, is open all year. January and February are the coldest months and have the fewest visitors. Although it rains in August and September, the weather is still suitable for visiting Vaishno Devi. The months of October and November are once again pleasant and ideal for darshan.