 The Shrine Board has provided various facilities for the yatries at Bhawan, to facilitate comfortable Darshans.
Accommodation
Self contained and furnished rooms are available on rent for the yatries at the Main Bhawan complex as well as Gauri and Vaishnavi Bhawan complexes. Dormitory accommodation is also available at Manokamna Bhawan complex. This accommodation can be booked
through our official website
www.maavaishnodevi.org
.
The facility of on line booking is available through our online services module. In case of availability spot booking is also possible at the reception counters of the respective Bhawans.
Free accommodation
In addition to the facility of rented rooms, there are a number of large halls which are available for the yatries. This accommodation is free of cost and is made available on a first-come-first-served basis. No booking or permission is required for using these premises since they are kept open round the clock and yatries can just go and occupy them subject to availability.
 The Shrine Board runs Bhojanalyas at Main Bhawan complex and Manokamna Bhawan complex. These Bhojanalyas provide wholesome vegetarian food to the pilgrims on a no profit basis. Because of the Board’s policy of running all its units on a no profit basis, all the items are available here are not only cheap and affordable but also of excellent quality. The Bhojanalyas at Bhawan run round the clock and serve a varied but traditional menu. In addition to full meals, packed snacks, beverages, mineral water and milk etc. are also available here. For the convenience of the pilgrims, hot and cold beverage dispensers have been installed at various strategic locations .These units are operated through the respective companies and sell quality products at printed rates. More...
Medical facilities
 Medical facilities are available for the yatries at Bhawan. A medical unit run by the Shrine Board is located at the Bhawan complex. All these medical units are equipped with necessary medicines and emergency provisions including oxygen cylinders and are manned by trained staff and medical officers. An Intensive care Unit (ICU) is also functional at the Bhawan complex. Emergency equipment has also been made available. However sustained or advanced treatment can only be made available at Jammu.
Other Facilities
 In addition, various other facilities including free toilet facilities, drinking water, enquiry and announcement booths are available all through the Bhawan Complex. STD/PCOs, Bank branches, a Police Station and a post office is also functional. There is also a small market complex where toiletries, medicines, eatables and other utility items are available. Fair price Bhaint shops selling Prashad and Souvenir shops selling photographs and cassettes are also located inside this market complex. It is reiterated that all establishments of the Board are run on a no profit basis and yatries can be sure of the quality and prices of goods offered in these establishments.
Blanket Stores
 The
Holy cave is situated at a height of 5200 ft above sea level.
Even during summers, the nights are cool (for indicative
maximum and minimum temperatures). Yatries would normally require the use of blankets at night. The Shrine Board has arranged for free blanket stores at various locations. For a nominal and refundable security deposit, yatries are issued blankets for the night. Blanket stores are located at various convenient locations and as already mentioned, the service is entirely free of charge. The security obtained from the yatri is refunded, once the blanket is returned. Pilgrims are advised to obtained proper receipts for every financial transaction.
Cloak Rooms
 Free cloak room facilities are available at Bhawan. These cloak rooms are functional round the clock. There is a cloak room located just opposite to the main queue complex (gate No.1). This cloak room can be used for depositing shoes, belts, combs and all other items that are not allowed in the Holy cave. In addition, another cloak room is functional in Sridhar Bhawan. Yatries can deposit their entire luggage here before proceeding for Darshans. However, yatries are advised not to keep their cash, jewellry, valuables or electronic items amongst the deposited luggage. All cloak room facilities are absolutely free of cost.
Officials present at Bhawan
The Shrine Board has posted various levels of officers including senior officers at all important locations including Bhawan. Yatries are welcome to contact any of them for advice or assistance. While most of the issues can be resolved at the assistance or announcement booths, officers of the Board are readily available for help or aid. In particular, for the Bhawan area, assistance is available in the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
or Sr. Manager or Assistant Manager situated at Room no. 4 or Room No.8, Kalika Bhawan.
Bhaint Shop
As already mentioned, offerings to the Holy Goddess are
restricted to a very few articles. This has been done in view of security constraints and limitation of the Darshan time inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. However, traditional offerings called Bhaints continue to be allowed. A Bhaint comprises of the traditional offerings which are offered to the Holy Goddess and include Prashad fullian, makhana, Chunni, mouli, coconut, Pooja samagri including Itra, Bangles and Sindoor.
However, one need not purchase and carry the Bhaint Prashad to be offered to the Holy Goddess from Katra itself. For convenience of the pilgrims, the Shrine Board operates a Bhaint shop at Bhawan where beautifully packed Bhaints
in eco-friendly jute bags are available at reasonable rates.
The Shrine Board is currently trying to explore the possibility of providing yatries with pure silver chatters of various denominations of guaranteed purity. It is expected that these shall shortly become available at the Bhaint shop to facilitate such yatries as would like to offer chatters to Mother Goddess. Bhaints of higher denominations are also likely to be introduced shortly.
Souvenir Shop
 For yatries who wish to carry with them mementos of the great pilgrimage, the Shrine Board operates Souvenir Shops at Bhawan, Sanjichhat, Adkuwari, Katra bus stand,
Trikuta Bhawan and at Vaishnavi Dham (Jammu). Chunris, Cholas, Saris, shawls which have been offered to the Holy Goddess are available for sale at these Souvenir Shops at nominal prices. Pilgrims can purchase them and preserve them as souvenirs or can place them at the place of worship inside their houses.
Besides, other exclusive items available at the Souvenir Shops include, audio cassettes, CDs, various publications of Shrine Board, laminated photos of the Holy Pindies, Jute Bags, Bangle Chura etc. Yatries may take notice that all these items are exclusively available at the Souvenir Shops of Shrine Board and are not available at any of the private shops.
The Shrine Board has developed Gold and Silver coins of guaranteed purity. These coins carry an impression of the Holy Pindies and are made of Gold or Silver offered at the feet of the Goddess. These coins are available on request from the local branch of J&K Bank. The rates of the coins depend on the denomination chosen and the prevailing gold/silver rates. More... |
