A Spiritual Journey to Vaishno Devi

by Manish Kumar Marketing Head

Known for its religious retreat, Katra is visited by pilgrims around the world. One of the most famous holy shrines Mata Vaishno Devi located in Katra makes it an important place for the visitors. This temple is located within the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir. You can find many hotels in Jammu near railway station from where you can embark on your religious journey to the temple.

This holy cave of Vaishno Devi is situated at an altitude of about 5200 ft and upon completing the pilgrimage; the pilgrims are blessed with the Mother Goddess inside the cave. The Darshans take the shape of three natural rock formations called the Pindies. The three forms are Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati.

The Religious Trip:
To reach the Vaishno Devi shrine, pilgrims need to get a Yatra Parchi from one of the registration counters. Upon obtaining the Parchi, you can then start on your trek which is about 13km from Katra. While a majority of the devotees walk both ways, some even take a ride on a pony. For the elderly and sick, there are palanquins known as Palkis on which the journey can be completed. About 2.5 km from the shrine, there is a helicopter service that operates from Katra to Sanjhichatt. You can find hotels near Jammu airport if you are visiting the Vaishno Devi temple. There are many hotels in Jammu near railway station as well from which your trip can begin.

Devotees chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ while trekking uphill to the holy cave. This makes the journey even more pristine and the beautiful sights of the entire valley make it a completely fulfilling and spiritual one. After you reach the main shrine after the strenuous trek, the positivity and the devotion around will uplift you and all the fatigue and exhaustion of the journey will be eased out. You can stay at hotels near Jammu airport for visiting this holy cave at your convenience

During the Pilgrimage:

Before the holy entry to the cave, devotees take a bath in the holy water once they reach the Bhawan. The Bhawan is located after you come across the Ardh Kuwari Cave. Devotees take a break during their journey at this narrow cave which holds great religious significance. It is believed that Mata Vaishno Devi took refuge in this cave while she was hiding from Bhairav Nath for 9 months.

Other than the holy visit to the pristine cave, devotees can also see the sacred Aarti which is held at the Bhawan before sunrise and after sunset. There are many other holy sites which include Lord Hanuman, Lord Hanuman and Bhairav Nath.

When to Visit:
The best time to visit the holy temple of Vaishno Devi is between the months of March and October. However, this pilgrim remains open throughout the year. This pilgrimage has the maximum number of visitors during Navratri.

So while you plan for your religious trip to the Vaishno Devi temple with your family, you can find a lot of hotels in Jammu near railway station where you can stay and even explore other places around Jammu.