Katra - town in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Katra, also known as Katra Vaishno Devi, is a city in the Reasi district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India. It is in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, about 42 km from the city of Jammu, and 35 km from Udhampur. The main attraction is the Maa Vaishno Devi temple.

Get in

The nearest airport is located in Jammu. And a nearby Railway station is Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Options to get to Katra from there are to take a taxi, ₹820-890, or a bus from the stand just outside the railway station.

If you are travelling from Delhi, options include buses which go direct to Katra, or the train, which is more comfortable.

Get around

By taxi.

See

Maa Vaishno Devi temple - is a famous Indian goddess who has a temple near Katra. It is on a mountain, with a climb of 12 km to reach it. Following are the options to reach Maa Vaishno Devi temple from:

Katra to Ardh Kuari - 6 km

• Walk - 3 hours
• Pony - ₹200 - 1 hour
• Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹140 - 3 hours
• Ardh Kuari to Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan - 6 km
• Walk - 3 hours
• Pony - ₹200 - 1 hour
• Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹140 - 3 hours
• Electric vans - Only for elderly people and the handicapped

Katra to Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan directly - 12 km

• Helicopter - ₹699 (as on 23/02/2012) one way - 5 Minutes
• Palki - for elderly - approx ₹3000 - 6 hours
• Walk - 6 hours
• Pony - ₹385 - 2 hours
• Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - ₹260 - 6 hours

Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairo Baba temple - 2 km

• Walk - 2 hours
• Pony - ₹150 - 45 minutes
• Pitthu - for luggage or small babies - 2 hours
• On the way back - The options are similar on the return trip. However, you can go directly from the Bhairo Baba temple to Ardh Kuari. You don't need to come back via Bhawan.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which manages the temple has more details on its website.

The best season to visit Vaishno Devi is October-March, as you can visit the original cave of Mata Vaishno Devi and accommodation is very cheap at that time.

• Ardh Kuari
• Main Bhawan. Dormitories available here for you to rest after the climb!
• Kal Bhairav Temple
• The Bhawan - the Sacred Sanctum of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is about 13 km from the base camp Katra and is linked by a hilly track. The journeys are mostly made at night, so the entire route has ample illumination. Facilities include drinking water, toilets, medical dispensaries etc are made available throughout the track. Apart from these facilities the entire track contains number of shops providing the refreshments and other local products.
• The Goddess Vaishno Devi's abode - is a 30 m long cave with a narrow opening. The holy cold and crystal clear water washes the lotus feet of the Mata's "Pindian". There are three natural pindies representing Maha Sarswati, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali which represent creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the Super Power. It is an ancient shrine whose reference is found in the Vedas and ancient scriptures.
• Shri Mata Vaishno Devi - one of the oldest shrines of India, located at an elevation of 1,615 m on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. The number of pilgrims has increased significant since early 1980s.

Shiv Khori

• Shiv Khori - Shiva, meaning "auspicious", is one of the Hindu gods that make up the supreme Trinity, comprising of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the Preserver and Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, which is responsible for the change. Lord Shiva is worshipped in many forms. He is conceived in his unborn and invisible form as lingum. The "Shiv-Lingum" symbolizes the power behind the creation. It is believed that at the end of all creation, during the great deluge, all of the different aspects of God find a resting place in the Lingam.
• Shiv Khori Yatra, Shiv Khori cave, Shiv Khori pilgrimage - Famous cave shrine of "Shivkhori", 80 km from Katra, depicts the natural formation of shivlingum. It is one of the most venerated cave shrines of Lord Shiva in the region. The holy cave is more than 150 m long & houses the 4 foot high Svayambhu Lingum, which constantly bathes in a milky lime fluid dripping from the ceiling. The cave is full of natural impression & images of various Hindu deities & full of divine feelings. That is why Shivkhori is known as "Home of Gods". The route from Jammu to Shiv Khori is full of beautiful & picturesque mountains, waterfalls & lakes.

Do

Eat

Most 3 star and above hotels have very good vegetarian food. There are hundreds of other restaurants in the main Katra market. On the way to Bhawan - you have many options of eating snacks and having cold and warm drinks. At some places run by the trust you can have good lunch of rice and rajma.

Drink

Alcohol drinking and non-vegetarian food is prohibited on the way to Darshan.

Sleep

• Hotel Sunchick. ₹700/day for a double
• National Guest House, +91 1991-232165-094192-15791-098581-63803. Clean and spacious rooms. 24hrs checkout. ₹600-700/day for a double/triple

Go next

• Udhampur — the second-largest city in the Udhampur District in the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir