The Vaishnodevi-Irctc Guest House

The dorm costs ₹298 for 24 hours and includes a breakfast coupon, hot water, toilets and bathrooms, with separate facilities for women and men. Breakfast runs from 8 to 10:30, with tea and five choices such as sada dosa, masala dosa and idly. I went with masala dosa. The sheets, blanket and pillows were clean, and there were no bed bugs. Since I was traveling alone, I chose the non-AC dorm. The AC rooms smelled a little musty because of the weather, so I'd suggest the non-AC dorm for solo travelers or couples. They also have 2- and 3-bed rooms. There's a shop selling different gift items at reasonable prices. The canteen has plenty of food choices, priced like IRCTC, and bottled Kingfisher and Railneer water costs ₹14. Lockers are inside the dorm for a refundable ₹500 fee. It's a good option for anyone, especially with its location inside the station. Thanks for reading. Jai Mata di 🙌🏻

Upstairs, the first-floor upper-class waiting room has a shower, and the washroom across from the hall is clean. On the ground floor, there's a waiting area beyond which is a dining hall, as well as paid toilets and a cloakroom. A large restaurant opposite the upper waiting hall has a spacious dining area, and there's a shop selling clothes, toys and food items. The dining room is roomy: one hall has chairs for sitting down to eat, while in the other you have to stand for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I bought 2 kg of walnuts at the IRCTC Shopping Lounge supervisor counter at Vaishno Devi, paying ₹790 per kg because I trusted IRCTC to maintain quality. When I opened them at home, almost all were spoiled, with insects and worms inside. I'm extremely disappointed and feel cheated. It's upsetting to find such unhygienic products sold under the IRCTC name, especially at a holy place where pilgrims expect honesty and quality. I ask IRCTC to take strict action against these sellers and give me a full refund.

The cafeteria needs a lot of improvement, and some of the food tasted bland. The dining area itself is nice, with a good view of the temple. Our rooms were spacious and clean, the AC worked well, and room service was quick. The receptionist was helpful. Apart from the food, it was a great experience.