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.
Further
information and help regarding visits to the Vaishno Devi shrine can be obtained from the
Shrine Board in Jammu (Tel: 0191-2433742).
