Jaikara Sherawali da, bol Sache darbar ki jai.
The first sight of the Holy Bhawan brings a sudden upsurge of energy and all the tiredness of the strenuous climb evaporates immediately as if by a magic wave of some mystic wand. Situated in a cave in the Trikuta mountain in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, the Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the most popular pilgrimages in India.
In order to visit the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji, one has to reach Katra, a small town situated around 50 kms. from Jammu, the winter capital of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Katra serves as the base camp for the yatra. Katra is well connected to Jammu and Jammu, in turn, is well connected to the rest of the country by Air, Rail, and Road.
Be it your first pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi or the curiosity to see this famous place there are a few things you should keep in mind before you go there.
- Register: You will need to register yourself for the Yatra. This can be obtained from Yatra Registration Counter at Katra and you do not need to pay for the same. Once you have a registration slip, you will have to cross the first check post at Banganga within 6 hrs of issuance of the Yatra Slip.
- Trekking: You have the option taking the 12 km trek from Katra. The temple lies at the altitude of 52000 feet. So you should be prepared for a long walk. The trek itself is smooth as the way is well paved. If you do not wish to walk on the slope, you have the option of climbing steep stairs as well. Start your trek at nightfall, as this will give you an amazing opportunity to catch the sight of the rising sun from the mountain beds, clasping the entire valley in its sunshine.
- Fly in the sky: You also have the option of choosing a helicopter service, which is available from Katra to Sanjhichatt helipad. The service needs to be pre-booked as there is high demand for the rides.
- Eateries: There are plenty of eateries and refreshment centres throughout the route maintained by the Shrine Board. The Bhojanalayas offer delicious rajma rice, purichole, dosa, kadipakoda and dahivada. Keep yourself nourished and hydrated on the journey.
- Bhawan: The main complex, known as the Bhawan, has free and rented accommodation facilities, vegetarian restaurants, a medical unit, blanket stores, cloakrooms, and shops selling religious offerings and souvenirs.
When you reach the cave, you can spot three pindis which symbolise Goddesses Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Goddess Vaishnodevi symbolizes their union, having the power of all three.
We at Destination2Travel can help you plan a trip to Vaishno Devi so that you get there without any hassles. Talk to our travel expert for customized day by day trip plan to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.