Vaishno Devi Tourism

"The Holy Caves" Vaishno Devi Tourism Located in Trikuta hills, 13 km fromKatraat the height of 1560 m above sea level with bright clouds and thinning air, this town is the holy cave temple of Mata Vaishnodevi, with spirituality and vibrancy lingering in the atmosphere. Revered and highly believed in, thousands of Pilgrims visit each year to seek blessings and show unflinching faith in this temple. Vaishno Devi is a religious trekking destination where pilgrims walk about 13 km uphill to reach the little caves which is among one of the 108 Shakti Peetha. Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani is a manifestation of Durga, a Goddess according to Hindu mythology. The trek itself is very enjoyable, though it might be a little difficult for kids and elderly people. However, ponies and palanquins are available by various vendors to take you there at the top. The whole way is decently paved with lots of shops selling snacks, food items and various religious goods. The pilgrims show their dedication and enthusiasm by shouting slogans and singing songs in the praise of Maa Vaishnavi all along the road. Overall, a great place if you are inclined towards both Hinduism and nature. Download Vaishno Devi PDF Guide > What's Great? Home to a spiritual culture. Revered site for Hindus. Well connected to the rest of India. A nice ambiance on the hills. Lovely in summers. What's not so Great? Congested in peak seasons. Not ideal in winters, unless you are a snow enthusiast. Trek is not very simple for people of all ages. For Whom Vaishno Devi is typically frequented by Hindus and Sikhs from North India. Vaishno Devi also sees a lot of religious devotees from other parts of the country.

The Religious Hotspot Of India Known as 'The Wish-Fulfilling Goddess' or ' Mann Mange Murad Poore Karne Wali' in Hindi, Vaishno Devi is a pilgrimage hotspot located in Trikuta Hills at Katra, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. In reality, Vaishno Devi is a trio of three Goddesses: Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali, who joined forces to create the warrior Goddess Vaishnavi, who had slain the demon overlord Bhairon Nath, and blessed her topmost devotee, Thronged throughout the year by religious devotees, this pilgrimage is a near perfect amalgam of serenity and spiritualism. The view of the sunrise, as well as the sunset from the Trikuta Hills, is absolutely breathtaking. Not to forget, the charm of view the lighted Bhawan in the night, especially during snowfall will leave you astounded for sure. All in all, if you want some spiritualism and scenery combined, go for the holy site of Vaishno Devi. The Holy Cave Although many legends prevail behind the discovery of the Holy Cave, the most accepted one is that of Pandit Sridhar's journey to the same. A devout priest from a nearby village, Hansali, Pandit Shridhar was blessed by Goddess Vaishnavi for organizing a Bhandara in her honor. Her sudden disappearance depressed Shridhar to the core, and he took a fast unto death, hoping for the Goddess to reappear. Distressed by his vow, Goddess Vaishnavi reappeared in his dream and instructed him the way to discover her abode in the cave on Trikuta Hills. The moment he got up, he set off for the journey to the Holy Cave. After days of toiling and traveling long distances, he found the Cave. It is then that Goddess Vaishnavi appeared in her true form and blessed him with four sons, and gave him the boon of being the official custodian of her Holy Cave. To this day, the successive generations of Pandit Shridhar honor this commitment.      Vaishno Devi Helicopter Services The helicopter services to Vaishnodevi are extremely popular, and offer tourists a beautiful ride amongst the clouds to the temple. The services start from the foothills of the Katra and end at Sanjhichatti, and takes approximately 8 minutes. The temple is around 2.5kms from the helipad at Sanjhichatti. Around 5 to 6 passengers can be accommodated in one flight, and each one-way ticket costs INR 1005, while the round fare costs INR 2050 per passenger. Tickets can be availed at the heli-ticket counters, where valid ID proofs and travel documents have to be presented. The tickets can also be booked online (https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/login.aspx).

Itinerary Day 1 -If you have reached Katra, preferably in the afternoon, take some rest, and visit the local market in the evening. There are umpteen choices of goods and crafts available here. In terms of accommodation, you can take up either a reservation in the available hotels or in the luxurious guest house built in the vicinity of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station.Day 2 -This is the day when you should ideally start off on your trip. After taking the Yatra slip from the regional office near Bus Stand, Katra, go for the Darshani Darwaza, from where the long trek officially begins. You shall start with Ban Ganga and moving on, cross Charan Paduka. Thereon, you would cross Adi / Ardh Kumari, the turning point for many travelers. By evening, you will have reached the Holy Bhawan. You can either continue your journey from here or rest for the day.Day 3 -This is the day when your Darshan of the Holy Trinity is complete. Before heading down to the base, you should visit Bhairon Nath Mandir, which is the place where the demon overlord was beheaded. As per the boon given by Goddess Vaishnavi, pilgrims must pay a visit to Bhairon Mandir before heading down, or else, their trip will remain incomplete. Once done, you can head back to the base, either on foot or by the helicopter from Sanjhhi Chhat.

Throughout the yearis the best time to visit Vaishno Devi Summer season and autumn season are perhaps the best time to visit the pilgrimage site of Goddess Vaishno Devi. The climate being cool and pleasant, these two seasons are the best for an ideal visit. Although the days are quite hot, yet the ambiance of the climate in the evenings makes summers a better option for your pocket. Unless and until you're physically fit and a snow enthusiast, winters are not the season for your visit.    Weather in Vaishno Devi Loading... Vaishno Devi in Winter (December - February) This is the least advisable season for a visit to Vaishno Devi. Temperature can go down to as low as -5?C and beyond. Snowfall occurs during this time. Unless you're physically fit and raring to go, this is not the ideal season for a visit. Vaishno Devi in Summer (March - June) Beginning from the March, the summer season is ideally the best season for a visit to the holy caves of Vaishno Devi. The days are although quite hot in the months of May and June, but it cools down by the evening, making the experience pleasant for the pilgrims. This season is especially ideal for those, who don't want to be trapped in the rush of the crowd. Vaishno Devi in Monsoon (July - September) Although not an ideal season, owing to the situation of the site, and the threat of frequent landslides during the drizzling rains, monsoon season might be ideal for those, who want heavy discounts on the trip, and some special offers as well. Vaishno Devi in Autumn (October & November) This is the peak season of the pilgrims, owing to the festive seasons. Nowhere will you see such a crowd of enthusiastic devotees roaring 'Jai Mata Di' as in October, during the time of the Navaratras. Although during and after Diwali, the crowd starts thinning, which makes it another ideal time for a visit. Those traveling by the new road, cut beside Ardh Kumari, are bound to be mesmerized by the beauty of the scenery from the trek on the Trikuta Hills. Monthly Weather in Vaishno Devi Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 4 20 February 9 23 March 11 27 April 17 35 May 21 38 June 22 36 July 24 34 August 24 34 September 21 34 October 16 32 November 9 24 December 6 21