The Pilgrimage Yatra of Mata Vaishno Devi

It was a shuddering night in a sleeper berth of Amritsar-Jammu train, during climax winters of January. Even the shawls and blankets that we bought in Amritsar were not sufficient to protect us from the spline chilling cold. Anyways we reached Jammu Tawi station at about 9 am on 22nd Jan and straight away left off to Katra in a hired taxi.

We tartan into a Luxury hotel in Katra and after several light snacks we started off to the Darshan Darwaza (the early point of the 14kms trek uphill to Bhawan (situated at 5200 above MSL). Maa Vaishno Devi pilgrimage cum trek flagged off at 2 pm with the "Jay Mata Di" on lips and on the brilliant red head band. Most of the pilgrims were climbing with minimum or no luggage at all, but we three had some clothes and blankets in our support pack, as well my DSLR and lenses.

The walk no doubt demanding and tiresome but the electrified ambiance created due to chanting of Jai Mata Di, endless will power and yet the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, we kept on rock climbing up, from time to time by longer & less steeper routes, while in some cases, to save time, we took the 45 degree steeper staircases. I for myself was getting quite exhausted some times, but the target was clear on sight whenever I used to raise my head. This used to give me a lot of strength every time to move on.

Following about 7 hours of trek, we reached at Sanjichhat via Adhkuwari, at about 9 pm. We are tartan into our double bedded single room somewhere to live (with extra bedding) at Mangal Bhawan. We got freshen up within some 45 mins, and then resumed our ramble to Bhawan (the abode of Mata Vaishniv Devi) which was about 2.5 kms from there, but the route was quite levelled and flat.

Since it was a peak winter night, we could come across carpets of snow only along the path (since the shrine board administration would have cleared the snow for the comfort of pilgrims). It was the first sneak peek to snow for us before the Patnitop trip.

Finally we reach Bhawan, subsequent to a half an hour of relatively relaxed walk. We had to place our shoes at the cloak, and bare foot, we had to amble around there (every so often even on the snow!). The flash my bare feet touched the snow, I felt a shock of 440 V and after few minutes of walk on them, my feet had gone numb. We had to rub them against the heaters, wherever we used to get there. We eventually reached the holy cave and were to our surprise, were hardly swarming, though it was 10 in the night. Probably, since we were wild enough to climb up in the climax winters, we could luckily have a 5 to 10 mins. long "Darshaan" of the three Holy-shrine called as Three Pindies ( demonstration of Supreme Energies of Mata Maha Saraswati, Mata Maha Lakshmi and Mata Maha Kali).

After that, my co-travelers, in the tracking down to formally complete the pilgrimage of Mata Vaishnov Devi started off to Bhairavnath Temple, about 1.42 kms from Bhawan, on ponies, while I favored, honestly, to return to our room in Mangal Bhawan.

Next day, I woke up reasonably early at 8 am (keeping in mind the 14 kms trek uphill the last night) and had a quick mealtime consisting of Poori and chole curry (you truly won't have much of alternative there for neither breakfast or lunch, besides rajma rice or chole rice, other than poori). Then it was the time for me explores Sanjichhat, and the landscapes nearby. With my DSLR in hand, I went on an extravaganza capture each, every view that was evenly magnificent and captivating. One can observe, in winters only, snow on top trimmings, soaked down from the limits of leaves and roof tops.

At some tallness a short coldness away, one can see the helipad from somewhere, at there, helicopter services are being provide by Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. and Global Vectra Helicopter Ltd. Mata Vaishno Devi by helicopter booking

We had our lunch and leisurely to the Sanjuchhat Helipad, for our maiden knowledge of airborne in a helicopter, sponsor to the Katra. The sum flying time was approximately 10 mines. Consideration quite short was actually an experience to treasure.

Book Mata Vaishno Devi Patnitop Tour Packages, Tour packages with Helicopter Tickets at best price for family, groups tours with Kashmir Tour Packages From Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,  and Chennai with Swan Tours Travel agents in India.