Vaishno Devi Temple is in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Distance is 13.5 km between Katra to Vaishno Devi Temple. This place is considered very holy for Hindus as well as everyone and all the devotees come to seek blessings of Maa Vaishno Devi.
There are 3 idols seated in the form of Vaishno Devi, in which the yellowish white rock is of Goddess Saraswati, the yellowish red rock is of Goddess Lakshmi and the black color is of Goddess Kali.
History of Vaishno Devi
According to Hindu mythology, when demons created terror in Treta Yug, Earth Goddess sought help for protection, then the three powers (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati) together manifested Vaishno Devi and after that Vaishno Devi won the battle against the demons and then decided to stay on earth.
Vaishno Devi started doing penance of Lord Vishnu, pleased with her penance, Lord Rama, the incarnation of Treta Yug, appeared and then Vaishno Devi asked him to marry her but Lord Rama said that marriage is not possible in this era because he is married to Mata Sita, but in Kalyug when Kalki will take incarnation and will appear in a different disguise, if Vaishno Devi recognizes him then she will marry him, till then wait on Trikuta Mountain.
How to reach Katra
By Air
If you want to come by air then the nearest airport is Jammu Airport (Satwari Airport), which is about 50 km from Katra, from where you can take a direct bus or taxi to Katra.
By Train
If you want to come by train then Katra has a railway station named after Mata Vaishno Devi: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station.
By Road
If you want to come by road then Katra can be reached through a network of national and state highways, there are frequent private and government buses to this place.
Ways to do Vaishno Devi Yatra
First of all, you have to reach Katra and register for Vaishno Devi Yatra, which is free. We can do Vaishno Devi Yatra in 3 ways, first by Trekking, second by helicopter, third by sitting on a pony or palanquin
Trekking
The first route for pilgrims is the walking route which is 13 km long. There are two different routes from Katra to Ardhkumwari and Ardhkumwari to Bhawan, whose distance is different.The Bhairon Nath Temple is a 2 kilometers above the Vaishno Devi temple.
Helicopter ride
Devotees have to book helicopters in advance. They can reach Vaishno Devi Bhawan quickly by helicopter which takes 8-10 minutes.
Pony and Palanquin
For some devotees, it is difficult to reach Vaishno Devi Bhawan by trakking, so those pilgrims reach Vaishno Devi temple with the help of pony and palanquin
Temples to visit during Vaishno Devi Yatra
The Vaishno Devi Yatra starts from Banganga, where pilgrims take a bath.
Charan Paduka
About 1.5 km ahead of Banganga, the holy footprint of the goddess can be seen on a rock.
Ardhkunwari Temple
After Charan Paduka darshan, comes Ardhkunwari temple, which is considered to be one of the most sacred places during the yatra.
Mata Vaishno Devi Temple
This place is considered very holy for Hindus as well as everyone and all devotees come to seek blessings of Maa Vaishno Devi.
Bhairo Nath Temple
After darshan at Mata Vaishno Devi temple, it is mandatory to visit Bhairo Nath temple or else your journey is considered incomplete. Bhairo Nath temple is 2 km above Vaishno Devi temple.
Best time to visit
March to October
The best months to visit are attractive due to favourable weather and Navratri celebrations.
November to February
This is good for travellers who want to enjoy snow as well as low temperatures and extreme winter.
Some important things about Vaishno Devi Yatra
First of all, it is necessary to register for the journey.
Do not carry too much luggage during the journey.
All food, drink, Washroom, Hospitals facilities are available during the journey.
Meat and alcohol are prohibited in Katra.
Darshan is not allowed during Aarti time, other than that it is open for darshan 24 hours a day.
The responsibility of maintenance, cleanliness, accommodation etc. of Mata Vaishno Devi temple has been given to the Shrine Board and they have made good arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vaishno Devi Yatra
- Will my SIM work in Vaishno Devi?
Only postpaid SIMs will work in Katra - Is there any dress code?
No, but still pilgrims should avoid wearing short or revealing clothes. - Can I use UPI or online payments?
Yes, you can. - How many kilometers do I have to cover to climb Vaishno Devi?
It is a 12-km climb from Banganga.
If you want information about more religious Places and Religious Yatras then please Visit Here
