Vaishno Devi Travel Guide
Katra Vaishno Devi is a small town situated in the Reasi district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on the foot hills of Trikuta Mountains. It has an average elevation of 754 meters. The place is famous for the pilgrimage spot for Hindus. Vaishno Devi is the holy shrine located here in the Trikuta hills. The temple is dedicated to Shakti. Vaishno devi is also known by the name Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani.
The temple was built some 700 years ago by Bramin Sridhar Ji. It is believed that Devi Ma herself instructed him to built this temple. There are three shrines inside the temple. They are Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati.
From Katra the ardous climb along the 13 km track to the cave temple is made by foot, on horse and pony back and on dandis. Porters are also available to carry the luggage. The best time to start the journey is after sunset. There is a Shrine Board in Katra where Yatra slips are issued for the journey and this slips play an important role till the cave temple. Snacks corners, resting zones, toilets, dharmasalas, cafeterias are in huge number all through the 13 km route.
How to Reach Vaishno Devi
- By Air – Nearest airport is Jammu or Satwari airport. It is at a distance of 48 km. Taxis are available for going to the town.
- By Rail – Katra is connected with New Delhi by train. Jammu Tawai is the other major rail station near Katra.
- By Road – Very good road connectivity with Delhi via national highways.
Distance of Vaishno Devi from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Jammu |
46 |
|
Srinagar |
265 |
|
Chandigarh |
386 |
|
Delhi |
636 |
Weather
Vaishno Devi Temperature
- Summer (Mar to Jun) – Temperatures are mild and range between (18°C) to (40°C)
- Monsoon – (Jul to Sep) – This is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are low and range between (3°C) to (15°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi temple is located on the foot hills of Trikuta Hills. Vaishno devi shrine is also known by the name Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani. As per believes, the temple was built some 700 years ago by Bramin Sridhar Ji. There are three shrines inside the temple complex. They are Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati. The temple is dedicated to Shakti. According to the legend Mata Vaishno used this cave as her place of penance. During this time a demon Bhairav Nath was searching Vaishno Devi. He believed Vaishno Devi was an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. He thought to marry her and be the superior among the Gods and Goddesses. While running away from Bhairav Nath, Devi Ma threw an arrow on a rock and water gushed out of it. This place is known as Baan Ganga (baan means arrow).
The banks of the river Baan Ganga is called as Charan Paduka. Footprints of Vaishno devi is embedded here.
Ardhkawari is only a few kilometers ahead. In this cave Vaishno Devi did strict penance for nine months before Bhairav Nath located her. Then she took the form of Mahakali and beheaded Bhairav Nath. She was in such a rage that the head of Bhairav Nath fell some 2.5 km away. That place is known as Bhairav Ghanti. The place where Vaishno Devi took manifestation is called Darbar or the Holy cave. Here she took the form of three rock Pindis (pindis means head ) and went into meditation forever.
It is also believed that before dying, Bhirav Nath prayed for forgiveness from Vaishno Devi. She granted her a boon which says that devotees coming here for pilgrimage will complete their pilgrim only if they visit Bhairav Ghanti.
Other Details
What to Do
Take a trip to the Shiv Kori Temple.
Where to Eat
- Prem Lahori Vaishno Dhaba
- Pooja Vasihno Dhaba
- Sagar Ratna.
What to Buy
Shopping options include Walnut, Aam Papad, coconuts, Red Chunris, Deity Pendants and Hand crafted Wooden Baskets.
Get Around
The temple is 12 km from Katra. It is an uphill trek. Pilgrims can walk, ride a pony or a helicopter to reach the temple.
Walking: People usually get tired walking and trekking all the way to the temple. The walkways are branched into circular sloped mountain roads and stepped slopes. The circular way is further divided. Pilgrims like to take name of Goddess while walking in groups or while greeting a new person. It is customary to say ‘Jai Mata Di’
Pony: It is recommended for pilgrims who have little time in hand or are not very physically strong to traverse the entire distance by foot. Pony’s go via a separate pathway. the journey is a very exiting one.
Helicopter: It is the swiftest way of reaching near the Goddess. The cost of one way trip is around 1000 Rs. From the helicopter, one may get lovely views of the pathways carved through the mountains and the green shady trees.
Porters: These are suitable for families or groups of people. Generally the costs are very high compared to the distance traveled. They do not go the entire way.
Manual Palki: It is generally preferred by old or disabled people, who are not comfortable on ponies. A group of 4-6 carry one person.
Top Destinations - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
– Gulmarg
– Jammu
– Kargil
– Leh
– Nubra Valley
– Pangong Lake
– Patnitop
– Pahalgam
– Sonamarg
– Srinagar
– Tso Moriri Lake
– Vaishno Devi
Popular Tour Plans - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
4-6 Days
1. Srinagar-Pahalgam (5N/6D)
7-10 Days
1. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Pahalgam (8N/9D)
2. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (9N/10D)
> 10 Days
1. Jammu-Vaishno Devi-Patnitop-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (11N/12D)
2. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Pangong Lake-Nubra Valley-Tso Moriri Lake-Sarchu-Manali (13N/14D)