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India » Vaishnodevi
 City Guide
 
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 One of the most sacred religious shrines for Hindus, Vaishnodevi is tucked away in a beautiful alcove in the Trikuta Mountains of the lower Himalayas. The holy cave is believed to be the abode of Ma Vaishno Devi. According to Hindu mythology, Vaishno Ma took the form of Maha Kali in this cave and decapitated Bhairon Nath, the demon who wanted to marry her. There are images of three deities in the cave viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Barefoot devotees brave rain and snow each year to trek up to the mouth of the cave from Katra, the base camp for the shrine. While children and elderly devotees can hire a pony or a horse, most pilgrims walk up to the shrine, keeping their spirits high during the trek by singing devotional songs. Although the much-awaited darshan lasts only about half a second, because there is always a long queue of devotees waiting for their turn, it is still one of the most popular shrines for pilgrims. |
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AIR
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have flights that connect Jammu with Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Srinagar. Airport: The nearest airport is at Jammu. Jet Airways has a flight confirmation counter at Katra.
RAIL
Jammu Tawi is an important railhead on the Northern Railway line. Express trains connect it with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Amritsar. Some of the trains servicing Jammu include Jammu Mail, Jammu Express, Shalimar Express, Sealdah Express, Jhelum Express, Madras Express and the Rajdhani Express. Railway: The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi. Katra has a reservation counter where bookings can be made.
ROAD
Jammu is on NH 1-A and is connected by the national highway network to all parts of the country. Jammu to Katra : Buses leave every 10 minutes for Katra, from the General Bus Stand. Taxis are always available from the airport, railway station and the Tourist Reception Centre in Jammu. Luxury buses leaving Jammu for Katra charge Rs 45 per person. Katra to Vaishnodevi : Vaishnodevi is a 13 km trek from Katra. The spirited make the journey on foot, while singing devotional songs. The aged and children can, however, hire a pony. Bus terminus: The bus stand at Katra serves as the road head for Vaishnodevi. All the northern state transport corporations ply special buses to Katra for the benefit of devotees. |
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Climate: Pleasant for most part of the year, it is bitterly cold during winters.
Area : 37 sq km
Language: Hindi, English
STD CODE : 01991
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 Places in and around Vaishnodevi are all linked to the goddess and her legends. The Raghunath Mandir and the temples of Adhkawari, Bhairon Ghati and Garbh Joon, en route to the main temple, are all linked with incidents during the mythical flight of the Goddess from Bhairon Nath. Some of the most scenic spots around Katra include Deva Mai, Devi Pindian, Baba Dhansar, Chamba, Aghar Jitto, Salala Lake, Riasi and Bhim Garh Fort. |
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Shiv Khori
This holy cave, which is nearly 300 feet long with a 4 feet high naturally formed Shivling, is considered second only to the Shrine of Vaishnodevi. A major festival is held here on every Shivratri. The yatris visit the cave throughout the year. Ponies on hire are available at village Ransoo, 75 km away from Katra, after which there is a 4 km trek by foot.
Patnitop
This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau at an altitude of 2,024 m across which the Jammu-Srinagar highway passes. Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountains of the Chenab basin.
Sanasar
This cup-shaped meadow, 105 km from Katra, is surrounded by gigantic conifers. A place for quiet holidays, the meadow is now being developed as a golf course and for adventure sports enthusiasts, para gliding is also available.
Mansar Lake
A beautiful lake fringed by forest covered hills. Boating facilities are available at the spot. Every year around Baisakhi, a food and crafts festival is organised here by Jammu and Kashmir Tourism.
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| Devotees can purchase items like red chunnis with zari-work, coconuts, prasad, postcards, lockets, rings or images of Mata Vaishnodevi from shops run by the shrine board outside the temple. You could also buy dry fruits and nuts at cheap rates. |
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