New Delhi — If you were trying to plan a peaceful weekend trip out of Delhi, forget it—Vaishno Devi just went full house. Over 1,600 passengers boarded not one, but two, special Katra-New Delhi trains late last week, and let’s just say it wasn’t your usual Rajdhani crowd. Families, pilgrims, and South Delhi aunties with matching wheelies all swarmed the platforms. Delhi’s devotion is not subtle—and clearly not slowing down either.
When Two Trains Just Aren’t Enough
Here’s what went down: Indian Railways quietly rolled out two special trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and New Delhi. You’d think this was a one-off for a long weekend, but nope—each train ended up being packed with over 800 passengers. The move came in response to an unusually high surge of demand from both tourists and devotees looking to do the Katra darshan without battling waitlists running into weeks. Oh, and before you ask—no, these weren’t your ordinary “sarkari” 3AC clunkers. Each of these trains had modern LHB coaches, increased security, and on-board catering.
Railways officials cited “spiritual tourism” as a growing category, especially post-pandemic. IRCTC app data shows that Katra has quietly crept into the top three Google search routes originating from Delhi NCR. While the official itinerary was tight—departing late Friday and returning by early Monday—the crowd didn’t seem to mind. There were even folks clicking selfies at Katra platform like it was Goa’s Arambol.
Will This Make NCR Travel a Bigger Hassle?
Absolutely—and not in a small way. Just ask the gurudwara-going crowd trying to reach Anand Vihar Railway Station over the weekend. Or the office goers stuck on NH-44 while buses to Jammu swerved out of pilgrims’ way. Timing-wise, it’s peak vacation window: Amarnath Yatra is around the corner, school breaks are on, and every Dilliwala with an extra chutti in June is now heading north. If you’ve got a cousin interning at Cyber Hub or a niece cramming for DU entrance near GTB Nagar, expect traffic snarls, longer auto rickshaw queues, and increased Uber surge pricing near Kashmere Gate and New Delhi Railway Station.
Add to that the fact these trains aren’t part of the regular schedule, which means departures and arrivals constantly reshuffle track assignments. So, no, your usual shortcut through Paharganj to board a train unnoticed at Platform 5 won’t work—this time, porters, police, and AI-backed crowd control are already one step ahead.
Remember When Vaishno Devi Was a Backpacker Scene?
Rewind ten years and a Katra trip meant hitting Old Delhi Railway Station in a quiet overnight sleeper, thermos full of chai and parathas from Moolchand. Today? Spiritual tourism is an economy unto itself. There was a time Vaishno Devi Yatra was managed mostly by private tour companies from Patel Nagar and Karol Bagh. But a 2014 survey by the Ministry of Tourism ranked it among India’s top five religious destinations—on par with Tirupati.
Interestingly, Indian Railways trialed weekend specials for Katra in 2016 but had to discontinue due to low utilization. The comeback now? Entirely fueled by younger pilgrims (think 20s-30s Delhi crowd) seeking both a spiritual reset and a weekend “off the grid.” Even hostels near Banganga have started offering dorm options with Wi-Fi and rolling yoga mats. The boom is real.
📍 Spot Check: If you’re around Connaught Place or Ajmeri Gate side, expect snarls on weekends. New Delhi Railway Station’s Platform 9 and 10 are now Katra express central. Closest metro stations affected include New Delhi (Yellow Line & Airport Express) and Rajiv Chowk for interchange warriors. Drivers should avoid Vivekananda Marg after 6 PM on Fridays. Porta cabin food stalls near Sadar Bazar are reportedly raking it in thanks to pilgrimage footfall.
The Final Word
This new surge in faith-fueled travel might sound like a “moral India is back” headline, but there’s more to it. It shows how Delhi is recalibrating its weekend identity—from picnic spots near Dilli Haat to temple trails in the Himalayas. That’s cool, but let’s not ignore the ripple effects. Is Delhi ready for recurring spiritual traffic along with its pre-existing chaos? Probably not. But Gurugram crowd could use the meditation. So what’s your take—spiritual rush or logistical nightmare?
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