SRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI TOURS

Faith has moved mountains. From a cave shrine tucked away deep in the the Trikuta Mountains of Kashmir to a bustling religuous centre, the call of Mata Vaishno Devi has drawn and converted many a non-believer. Those who come as tourists leave as staunch followers singing her praises. This is the ultimate refuge of the helpless. The one place that answers your prayers. Where all dilemas are resolved. So come with faith - that's all that is asked of you.

Location:
The holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi is nestled in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas. It is located 61 km north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the cave there are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.

Season:
The shrine is visited all through the year, but the path is difficult during the winters when the route is often blocked by snow-fall

Katra, a small town in the foothills of Trikuta, serves as the base camp to the Vaishodevi Yatris. The shrine is approach on foot along a 12km path from Katra. Every year, nearly 5million pilgrims visit Mata Vaishodevi. The shrine has been a beacon of faith and fulfillment to millions of devotees. Popular belief holds that anybody who walks the trail to the goddess’ abode rarely goes back disappointed. The holy shrine contains the holiest of holy Pindis, manifesting the Mata in three forms –Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Sarasawati. It is believed that the Yatra is not complete unless the pilgrim visits Bhairon ka Mandir as well (2.6 km from the main shrine).

Yatris on reaching katra need to get a Parch (registration sleep) from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) counters near the Bus Stand. Counter No 1for 9 persons & No2 for 10 person and above. Counters are open from 6am to 11pm.

Pithus, palkwalas and ponywalas registered with the authorities are available from Katra to Banganga. The rates from Katra to the shrine and back are fixed as per the weight of luggage and yatri. Yatris are advised to check the identities of hired pithu, Palkiwala, ponywala and note their card numbers / names in case of any kind of eventuality.

After darshan, one must not miss trying maalish (Body Massage) at Katra. The maalishwala will loosen your muscles using different massage methods and a variety of oils.

For your food taste, Katra is no less than a metro city. The modern Fast Food restaurants fulfil the needs of every yatri – be it Punjabi, Gujrati, Marathi, Bengali, NRI’s or foreigners. The food at Dhabas and Restaurants is equally tasteful and reasonable. In obeisance to Mata, the entire Katra town and nearby Katra areas are declared vegetarian and alcohol free.

Katra main bazaar is full of Kashmiri handicraft items, all types of dry fruits, bhaints, gift items and other specialties from the region.

Helicopter service: -

The helicopter service from Katra to the shrine and back can be availed at a fixed price. The chopper makes many sorties during the day subject to weather conditions. The helipad at katra is just 1¹/₂ kms away from the main market in the Kashmir road.

Shrines nearby: -

Shivkhori

The main attraction here is a natural 4ft high Shivling in a kilometer long cave. The day trip from Katra (35km) is generally of interest to the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishnodevi. During Shivaratri, a fair is held which is visited by devotees from all corners.

Baba Dhansar

Traveling 10 km from Katra towards the famous Salal-dam in Reasi, a cool spring gushes out of the mountainside on a thick grove of trees and forms a number of small waterfalls. Next to the spring is a naturally formed Shivling on which the droplets of water fall. Every year a festival is organized during Shivaratri at Baba Dhansar.

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