Katra Jammu

Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu

Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu

Jai Mata Di ! That is what comes to anyone's mind when we think about Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu. One of the biggest sacred shrine in India situated in Katra Town of Jammu- the northern most state of India (Jammu and Kashmir). We have tried to sum up most of the relevant information for you related to Vaishno Devi Katra.

How to reach Mata Vaishno Devi Katra?

To start your journey you can plan it by three means- Rail, Road and Air or a mix of any two, from anywhere in India.

Mata Vaishno Devi journey by train can be completed in two ways. We have two nearest railway stations to Mata Vaishno Devi- Jammu Tawi Railway Station (Code- JAT) and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Station (Code- SVDK). JAT station is 45-50 Kms away from Main Katra Town whereas SVDK is approximately 2-3 Kms away from Main Town and Bhawan/Temple Token Counter.

Jammu Airport is the nearest airport if you plan to travel to Katra by Air. From Jammu Airport, Katra town is about 80-85 Kms. You can take Cab/Taxi Facility directly from Airport to Katra Town. There is provision of Helicopter in Katra operated by DGCA for which reservations need to be done well in advance before your journey dates (1-2 Months). Flight is about 8-10 mins and it takes you directly at the Sanjhichhat (2 kms before Main Bhawan/Temple). The ride takes approximately Rs. 1000/- each side. The helicopters operate as per weather clearance from ATC and DGCA. So be prepared as weather conditions may play a spoil sport in your plans. The flight takes 8 people in one round.

Journey by Road is a bit more time consuming and difficult from Far off states. If you decide to have a road trip to Katra then you have to reach first till Delhi. Delhi to Katra is about 640-650 Kms and it takes about 12-13 Hours to reach by Road. Route is Delhi to Ambala via NH1 then Ambala to Jalandhar via Ludhiana and then from Jalandhar to Pathankot to Jammu and finally to Katra. Roads are good accept for few patches between Ludhiana to Jalandhar where construction of highway is still going on. Rest all journey is comfortable.

Where to Stay in Katra?

Jammu Road Area is the main place to stay in Katra. It is well connected to Railway Road and Yatra Parchi/Ticket Counter. Jammu road is the market area of Katra and all major eateries are on this road itself. The road stretches to 1.5 - 2 Kms consisting of Main Bus Stand, Market Place, Restaurants and Hotels over both side of the road. It also consist of a Mall cum Multiplex.

For shopping there are hundreds of shops selling the regional and religious stuffs on the Jammu Road. Everything is walking distance from all the hotels on this road.

Even you can find many tour operators offices if you wish to travel any further from Katra to other tourist attractions of the State. 

Some of the Good hotels are Hotel Swing high (4 Star), Ginger Hotel Katra (3 Star) and Mount View International (2-3 Star) etc. These Hotels are comfortable and got spacious rooms with nice service. They are very much in proximity of everything. 

How to reach Ban Ganga and Yatra Parchi Counter?

Few hotels provide free pick and drop facility (till 9 or 10pm in the evening) for their guests to Ban Ganga. So you can ask at the reception counter at the hotel for this service.

Otherwise, One can find Auto-rikshaw services in plenty running all day and night on this road to Ban ganga (starting point of Mata Vaishno Devi darshan yatra).

You just have to step out of your hotel onto Jammu Road and can fetch an auto in 2-5 Minutes for Yatra Parchi Counter and ban Ganga. Usually auto-rikshaws ask for Rs.100-150 each side for travel between hotel and Ban Ganga. They can accommodate 4-5 people in one round.

Main Yatra Details

Before starting with the main yatra to Bhawan, visitors are required to take the free entry tickets/pass from Yatra Parchi/Ticket Counters installed near Main Market. It is available both online and offline to the visitors by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Visitors may be required to show valid proofs of identity at the ticket counter.

The Main Yatra starts from Yatri Security Checking Counter at Ban Ganga, where you are required to show your registration ticket/pass obtained from the ticket counter. The distance from Bang Ganga till Bhawan is approximately 11-12 Kms.

The complete track is divided into two- Old Way (Walking or Stairs) and New Way. Old Way is very steep, narrow and tough to walk (specially if you have knee, feet or leg troubles) plus lots of disturbance due to parallel Horses movement to and fro. This path stretches approximately 4-5 Kms and then you get newly constructed way approximately 6-6.5 Kms (only walk or Electric Carts available only for Old Age and Needful) which is very much walk able with zero horses movement, leading you to Bhawan.

The Main Yatra can be done on feet/stairs or on Horse or on Baggi (puled by 4-6 people). The Shrine board has declared clearly fares to and fro for each service, such that there can be no fraud done to the visitors. There are Pithu available from the checking counter to help you with pulling your stuff till the Top or Bhawan.

You can hire one if you have some stuff that you don't wish to pull by yourself. Charges for it are clearly written on boards by Shrine Board and don't forget to take the Mobile number and original id card of Pithu for tracing your stuff later, as pithu walk very fast being habitual of climbing on daily basis. You can ask for it directly from the Pithu and he can't refuse it.

Journey would nearly take 4-5 Hours to Bhawan and return journey may take 3-3.5 Hours going down on feet.

Where to Eat in Katra/Bhawan?

Food will never be of any concern while you stay in Katra. If you are interested in trying Indian food then there are lots of Local Dhaba Type Junctions and Restaurants nearby Main Chowk (Near Yatra Parchi counter) and on the Jammu Road.

From South Indian to North Indian, chinese to italian, there is everything available on the streets of Katra, but Vegetarian food only.

If you want to eat something local, then, try out some Matar stuffed Kulcha's from Road side near Main Chowk/Round about or Hot Milk in the Main Katra Market. If want everything under one head then visti the most popular ones like Jewels Restaurant Next to Yatri Ticket Counter, Punjabi haweli and Kens food planet all near Main Jammu Road and walking distance from most of the Hotels.

If you are more interested towards staying with the brands then Katra has got lots of restaurants set up by well established Indian & International brands. You can find Cafe Coffee Day, Sagar Ratna and Dominos Pizza etc inside AMR Mall cum Multiplex. Sagar Ratna has one more restaurant set up at the Bhawan which is most popular amongst the visitors to Mata Vaisho Devi Katra.