Exploring Vaishno Devi: Located in Katra, Jammu, Vaishno Devi is a sacred place surrounded by beautiful Trikuta Mountains. It’s a very important pilgrimage site in India. Every year, millions of people make the challenging trip to receive blessings from Goddess Vaishnavi, who represents Goddess Mahakali, Goddess Mahalakshmi, and Goddess Mahasaraswati.
Take a special trip to Vaishno Devi and feel the powerful presence of Goddess Vaishnavi in the stunning Himalayan mountains. Let the holy songs, the strong spiritual feelings, and the huge mountains help you find peace and understanding inside yourself.
Exploring Vaishno Devi: How to reach Vaishno Devi?
By air
The closest airport to Vaishno Devi is in Jammu, about 50 kilometers away. From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to Katra, which is where you start your journey to Vaishno Devi. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Katra from Jammu, and you’ll see some beautiful mountains along the way.
By train
The closest train station to Vaishno Devi is the Katra Railway Station. It links up with big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. From there, you can either walk or catch a shuttle to the Katra Bus Stand, where your journey to the Vaishno Devi shrine starts.
By road
Katra is where the pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi begins. It’s easy to reach by road from Jammu and other big cities in North India. You can drive there yourself or take a bus run by the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) or other private companies.
Things to do in Vaishno Devi
Trek to the shrine
The journey to Vaishno Devi starts with a walk from Katra to Bhawan, which is up at 5,200 feet. The walk is about 13 kilometers long and has different parts, like Banganga, Charan Paduka, and Arhdkuwari. Pilgrims can walk the whole way or they can ride ponies, palkis, or even take a helicopter for a more comfortable trip.
Seek blessings at the Bhawan
When pilgrims get to the Bhawan, they pray to Goddess Vaishnavi inside the main temple. This temple is in a cave surrounded by mountains and feels very peaceful and spiritual. Pilgrims often have to wait in long lines to see the sacred symbol that represents the Goddess and feel her presence.
Visit Ardhkuwari Temple
On the way to the Vaishno Devi temple, pilgrims go through Ardhkuwari, where it’s said that the Goddess meditated for nine months. Inside a cave there is the Ardhkuwari Temple, devoted to Goddess Vaishnavi. It’s a special place for worshippers who come to ask for blessings and help from the divine.
Explore Bhairon Temple
Once people finish visiting the Vaishno Devi temple, they can choose to keep trekking to the Bhairon Temple. It’s up on a hill, about 6,600 feet high. It’s thought that the pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi isn’t finished until you’ve also paid your respects to Bhairon Nath, who’s a strong form of Lord Shiva.
Experience spiritual serenity
Besides being important for religion, Vaishno Devi is also a peaceful place with beautiful views of the Himalayas. You can relax and enjoy the calm feeling there, with lots of green plants, waterfalls, and amazing mountain scenes.