Nestling
on top of the Trikuta Hills at a height
of 1,700 mt is the sacred cave shrine of Vaishno Devi,
the mother goddess. At a distance of 61 kms from Jammu,
the cave is 30 metres long and just one-and-a half mt
high. At the end of the cave are shrines dedicated to
the three forms of the mother goddess – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi
and Mahasarasvati. Pilgrims have to enter in small groups
through a narrow opening and walk through ice-cold waters
to reach the shrines. According to legend, the mother
goddess hid in the cave while escaping a demon, whom
she ultimately killed.
The shrine of Vaishno Devi is approached through Katra,
which lies 13 km from the shrine and is the base for
the pilgrimage. From Katra, pilgrims climb one km to
Banganga, where the goddess is believed to have stopped
to drink water; six km further is the cave shrine of
Ardhkunwari, where it is believed she meditated for
nine months.
The last halt before the actual shrine is the Bhawan,
where there are arrangements for wash- and- change,
accommodation and for depositing luggage and valuables.
Entry
For entry into the shrine, devotees need to
get a Yatra slip issued by the Shrine Board at Katra.
The Shrine Board operates a Tourism Reception Centre
at the Katra bus stand, from where the slip can be obtained;
it’s free of charge. The slip must be presented at the
Banganga checkpost within 6 hours of being issued. Furthermore,
when you reach the Bhawan, just below the shrine, you’ll
need to present the slip in order to be assigned a place
in the queue of devotees waiting to go up to the shrine.
Getting there
The airport closest to the Vaishno Devi shrine is at
Jammu. Jammu is an important transit hub, well connected
to the rest of the country through air, train and road
links. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate regular
flights to Jammu from Srinagar and Delhi; Indian Airlines
also has two flights weekly from Leh to Jammu. A large
number of trains link Jammu to major Indian cities,
including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bhopal, Mumbai, and
Hyderabad. Similarly, an extensive network of roads
links Jammu to other parts of the country.
For
pilgrims headed for the shrine, the base for  the
trek up to Vaishno Devi is Katra, 50 km from Jammu.
Katra is connected to Jammu by National Highway 1A);
regular buses and taxis are available for Katra from
Jammu Airport, from the Railway station and from the
General Bus Stand in Jammu. Buses leave the bus stand
every 15 minutes for the shrine; bus services operate
from 6 am to 8 pm.
From
Katra, the shrine is a 13 km trek up a mountain; the
climb can be done on foot or by using ponies and dandies
(local palanquins).
When
to go
The main season for visiting the shrine is from March
till July. The area’s very cold through most of the
year, so this is the best time to visit. Even during
the summer, the temperature’s not exactly high, so take
along light woollens just in case it gets cold.
Accommodation
and other facilities
The most convenient place to stay is Jammu, just over
60 km away. Jammu has a number of good hotels, guest
houses and inns, both private and government-owned.
Katra itself has a number of guesthouses where it is
possible to get a room.
Along
the 13 km climb from Katra to Vaishno Devi are a number
of shelters where pilgrims can rest for a while. Ardhkunwari,
Sanji Chhat (4.5 km short of the shrine), and the Bhawan
have accommodation, though limited. Accommodation is
always at a premium, so if you plan to stay overnight
along the route to Vaishno Devi, it’s essential to make
reservations beforehand.
Teashops
and snack bars dot the route leading to the shrine;
these serve only vegetarian food.
Vaishno
Devi Tour & Package ( 6 Nights / 7 Days ) Click..
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