Vaishno Devi
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[edit] Basic Information
Vaishno Devi is a famous Indian Goddess having a temple near Katra, J&K. It is on a mountain and a climb of 12 km has to be undertaken to reach it. For last 5 kilometers electric vehicles are available for a sum of Rs 100.
[edit] How to reach
The nearest railhead/ariport is Jammu. You can take buses to katra from the bus stand just outside the railway station. The climb starts from Katra.
If travelling from Delhi, there are options to travel in Buses which go direct to Katra but the train journey is more comfortable.
To reach Bhawan (Holy Shrine), you can choose:
- To walk 12 Kms
- To travel on Pony
- To take palki (4 people carrying you on a kinda cart, on their shoulders) - generally opted by very old people
- To travel on helicopter which drops you near Sanjhi Chatt (approx 3 Km before Bhavan).INR 1225.00 one way and INR 2450.00 both ways.
- To walk/pony till adh-kuwari and then take electric Car till Bhawan
[edit] Recommended Itinerary
- Take any train in evening (there are around 10 trains daily)or any low cost airline from delhi to Jammu
- Reach Katra from Jammu by bus (Bus stand is opposite the Jammu Railway Station) and stay at any of the many Dharmshalas.
- Prepaid taxi available at airport to katra with both way fares.No need to stay at katra. just start your climb up.Use shrine board dharmshala for night rest.
- You shall need to register yourself here at the shrine board counter before you can continue the journey.
- Start climbing from Banganga
- Visit ardh kuari first.
- Then visit the main bhawan (Dormitories available here for you to rest after the climb!)
- Then visit Kal Bhairav temple. (The visit is incomplete without visiting this temple).
- Return
[edit] Expected expenditure
Train tickets (from Delhi) (two-way) = 700 approx
Air ticket(from Delhi) (two-way) = 5000approx
Bus ticket (from Delhi to Katra) = 450 - 800 Rs
Bus ticket (from Jammu to Katra) = 50 Rs
Cost of Palki (Round trip from Katra to bhavan) = 3600 Rs
Cost of Pony (From Katra to Bhavan) = 350 Rs approx
[edit] More Details
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which manages the temple has its website with extra details: http://www.maavaishnodevi.org You can stay at hotel sunrise at a very reasonable price of just Rs700/day for a double room or you can stay at the hotel of the shrine board but during peak season it requires advance booking.There is no problem of staying at katra as there are no. of good hotels.
the best season to visit vaishno devi is during October-March as you can visit the original cave of Mata vaishno devi and accommodation is very cheap also at that time.
