!!! Jai Mata Di !!!
One of the most favorite destinations, especially of people from all across the North India is Katra which is located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Katra is that small town of Jammu which houses the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. And I make sure to pay a visit to the holy shrine at least once every year and this has become a routine since the past fourteen years or so. Although I have been to the holy shrine in every season and climate and with reservations (planned itinerary) and without reservations (haphazard), in a big group and alone at times, with family and mostly with friends, I somehow love this time of the year while planning the pilgrimage to the holy shrine.
Having completed this year’s trip a couple days back, I thought it appropriate to share my experiences with all so that everybody could leverage the same and benefit out of it, essentially by not repeating the same mistakes, which I still tend to do even after my fourteen year experience.
We were in a group of seven people this time and since we prefer to travel through the Indian Railways especially on this route since it’s not only a smaller journey, if you book the right trains and at the right time, it can turn out to be one of the most comfortable journey’s you’ve had by train ever. Trains like Jammu Rajdhani, Sampark Kranti, Jammu Tawi and Pooja, generally start from the New Delhi Station post 2000 hrs (times for different trains are different) and most of them reach the Jammu Tawi Station (JAT) as early as 0540 hrs in the morning. The best part is that trains on this route have very less number of stoppages and are mostly jam packed, therefore they generally reach before time, leaving asides a couple of foggy days or those protest days when all the trains are late and some are cancelled.
It is highly recommended that while travelling through train, one must make sure to get the tickets booked as early as possible and there is no harm if you book them even four months in advance if the traveler’s names and their availability dates are confirmed. Tickets can be booked by either standing in the queue at a window on any of the Rail Reservation Centre’s spread across saddi Dilli or, you could log on to Indian Railways official site https://www.irctc.co.in/ . Although the site is slow at times, but trust me, by far this is the best way to get your Train Tickets and especially if you don’t believe in touts. Another word of caution here is, always travel on CONFIRMED tickets especially if you are travelling in the air conditioned coaches and typically in Rajdhani.
The town of Katra where the holy shrine is located is about 45 kms from Jammu and it takes just over an hour to reach there by road. Multiple options are available at the Jammu station for the onward journey to Katra. One can board a bus and pay around INR 35 – 75 depending on the condition and the number of passengers in the bus. Alternatively, a tempo traveler can be boarded for about INR 125 per head. And for the people who suffer from mountain sickness, I recommend a taxi which depending on the number of seats again (generally 5 to 7) would cost around INR 700 to 1600.
Upon reaching Katra, the transport would drop you at the main chowk or the bus stand. Next is the hotel accommodation, I would strongly recommend the Niharika Complex which is a Shrine Board property. The accommodation for the same can be booked on the official website of the shrine board https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/, book them at least a month in advance. There are other private, regular and star hotels also available and they charge from INR 500 to 5000 for a night. A stay at the Niharika complex would cost around INR 900 for a four bedded room. And don’t expect food with onions and garlic or non-vegetarian food or alcoholic drinks in the entire town and even in the star hotels as the same is prohibited throughout the town.
The Bhavan from Katra is around 14 kms uphill and it takes not more than 6 hours to reach by foot, it is open 24 hours and day and 7 days a week. People generally prefer walking and they have their own preferable times to start the journey, some prefer to start as early as 0500 hrs in the morning and reach the Bhavan by evening for the Aarti. On the other hand some people choose to start at night so that they can attend the early morning Aarti. People inside the Bhavan at the time of Aarti are only allowed to take part in the Aarti, no more people are allowed to enter during the 2 plus hour long Aarti and therefore the queues can grow longer and longer outside the Bhavan.
If you are not the athletic types you can either hop on a horse and be ready to let your back go for a toss, or you can lie down comfortably on the Palki where four men who ferry you on their shoulders for approximately around INR 2200 for one side. The horse on the other hand would charge around INR 700 – 800 for one side. The best and the most preferred mode of transport these days though is the Helicopter. And though the journey on a horse and a Palki would almost take the same time as walking, a chopper takes only around 5 to 7 minutes from Katra to Sanjhi Chhat, from where the Bhavan is around 3 kms and the walk is easier as it is not very steep, one can also get horses to Bhavan from there for around INR 250, depending upon ones weight.
One way journey from Katra to Bhavan on the chopper would cost around INR 700 per head and the chopper seats 6 at a time. There are multiple flights during the day operated continuously from both sides (Katra and Sanjhi Chhat) by the two operators Global Vectra Corp and Pawan Hans Ltd. Be sure to book the right time slot and at least a month in advance to be able to enjoy the helicopter ride. The tickets can be booked from the official website of the shrine board https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/.
A Global Vectra Chopper landing and taking off from the Sanjhi Chhat helipad
If you want a hassle free journey through the chopper, make sure to avoid booking your tickets through the Pawan Hans service. The Global Vectra far more professional in their approach and they hardly ever try to get into a tussle with the travelers, more over the Pawan Hans is very chaotic and unprofessional and are bound to oblige influential people dropping in the last minute with references. I personally have traveled on both and have found Global guys to be improving with every passing year.
To sum it up
- Preferred transport from Delhi = Train
- Preferred transport from Jammu to Katra = Taxi
- Preferred Hotel = Niharika Complex
- Preferred chopper Katra to Sanjhi Chhat and back = Global Vectra
- Preferred Food = Pure Vegetarian
Have a safe trip and great Darshan….!!! Jai Mata Di !!!
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