Jammu
Passengers using Air or Rail as a mode of travel have
necessarily to break their journey at Jammu and from
thereon select an alternative mode of transport. However
for passengers traveling by road, either through public
or own transport, there is an option of taking a by-pass
from Kunjwani, nearly 10 kms. off Jammu and heading
straight for the base camp i.e Katra..
Jammu to Katra
The distance between Jammu and Katra is approximately 50
km. Ordinary and luxury buses are available from Jammu
to Katra at a frequency of 10-15 minutes. While ordinary
buses can be boarded from the State Road Transport Bus
Stand around 1 km from Jammu Railway Station, luxury
buses are available from just outside the Railway
Station. It takes around 2 hours to cover the 50 km
stretch from Jammu to Katra. The terrain is hilly and
winding and passengers often experience nausea and
vomiting.
.Katra Town & Facilities
Located at an altitude of about 2500 feet above sea
level, Katra is the base camp for the Yatra to the Holy
Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. This is the last
point uptill which any type of modern transport can go
(except the recently started Helicopter service, which
takes the pilgrims right till Sanjichhat, just a couple
of kilometers from the Holy Shrine).
Located at an altitude of about 2500 feet above sea
level, Katra is the base camp for the Yatra to the Holy
Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. This is the last
point uptill which any type of modern transport can go
(except the recently started Helicopter service, which
takes the pilgrims right till Sanjichhat, just a couple
of kilometers from the Holy Shrine). Therefore, for all
practical purposes, Katra serves as the base camp. From
here a trek of around 12 kms takes a pilgrim to the Holy
Shrine. One can undertake this trek on foot or on
horses/ponies or on palanquins (palkies or dolies).
While most of the pilgrims prefer to go on foot, some
who find it difficult to negotiate the climb hire a pony
or a palanquin
Katra to Bhawan
As per the legend, Mata Vaishno Devi met Pandit Shridhar
in the form of a girl child at the spot which is today
known as the Darshani Darwaza. This spot is also known
because Darshani Darwaaza because from here one gets a
complete view of Trikuta Mountain.
Bhawan
The Holy Bhawan houses the Sanctum Sanctorum – the Holy
cave which is the ultimate destination of the yatries.
Inside the Holy Cave the Goddess has revealed herself in
the form of Holy Pindies manifesting Mata in her three
forms Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Mata Saraswati
Route of shri Mata Vaishno Devi
The 13 Kms hilly track between Katra and Bhawan contains
number of ancient temples and view-points for rest and
enjoy natural beauty. The first stop is at Banganga, 1
Km away from Katra where one can have holy bath in the
Banganga and have a Langer/Parshad (free food) run by
famous T-series Industries.
The second stop Charanpadhuka is about 2.5 Kms away from
Banganga. It is believed that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji
took rest while moving towards the Trikuta Hills. The
place contains the foot prints of Goddess, and thus the
place is named Charanpadhuka Temple..
The third stop Adkuwari is about 3 Kms from
Charanpadhuka. Here one can stay for night as half of
the journey is over. At Adkuwari the devotees can have
Darshan of Adkuwari Temple and Gerbhjoon (an ancient
Cave of about 20 feet). It is believed that Shri Mata
Vaishno Devi Ji hide herself from Bairon Nath in this
cave for 9 months.
After a steep height of about 4 Kms from Adkuwari the
fourth and last stop is Sanjichat. The Sanjichat is the
highest place in the track. One can enjoy the aerial
view of Katra, Udhampur, Reasi and Jammu.
From Sanjichat about 2.5 Kms downhill track led to
Bhawan the holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. About
0.5 Kms from Bhawan on the Bahawan-Sanjichat track an
about 2 Kms link track lead to the Bairon Nath temple.
The track is further linked with Sanjichat though dense
forest containing different species of wild life such as
Langoor, Monkeys and other wild birds. |