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Now the thing with Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is that you just can’t plan a trip here, it’s saying, “Mata ka bulawa jab aayega, tab he jayenge”
In this blog, I have tried to share my experience of planning and completing the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra from Delhi, and I hope that it can help you to plan yours. So have a look at this Vaishno Devi Travel Blog.
Train, Ropeway & Night Stay at Darbar
So keep in mind that don’t overthink about anything.
I make prior reservations for our train tickets, Ropeway rides from Bhawan to Bhairon ji mandir and vice versa.
I didn’t make any reservations for hotels in Katra as the ones I saw online were not attractive or overpriced.
TRAIN: New Delhi railway station
So we decided to catch the train on 26th January yes on Republic Day Afternoon from Delhi to Katra.
Since I had made the reservation just a month before, all good options were gone, like Vande Bharat Train.
My train ride till Katra came with seat numbers like C8 & C9 for me and Friend, and other for Friend relatives and it was very difficult to exchange seats as the train was jam-packed.
Nevertheless, the train was just 35 minutes late and we reached Katra by 11:42 PM.
“We stepped out of the station, took an auto, and the auto driver dropped us at the hotel. After that, we stayed overnight because the next morning, we had to walk to reach Mata Rani’s shrine, and a proper rest was necessary.
“A better option is to book either a dormitory or private room, again by visiting www.maavaishnodevi.org and booking rooms well in advance. Will share one more Vaishno Devi Travel Blog on how to get a confirmed room from the shrine board website.
Next morning
Yatra Parchi: Though you could get it physically while at Katra, booking it online saves some time given my punishing schedule.
Physical preparation: This might sound odd here but believe me hiking for 32kms and that too at a faster pace is not easy. doing some strength exercises with a focus on the legs to make the trip less painful.
The Yatra > Katra to Darbar
So we stayed the whole day 2 in Katra at a hotel near the main bus stop, like 300 meters away, and did some dry fruit shopping, tried some family & relatives suggested dhaba (tried Manoranjan Dhaba, but favourite one is Ma Restaurant near Nathu Sweets) and bought many toys for kids.
Day 3
Katra to Darbar in 8 hours…
Starting of the Yatra
So the idea today was to start the Yatra from Katra by 7 am, and reach Ardhkuwari by 10:20 PM.
The route till Ardhkuwari from here is 7 km, 2 km longer than the old route, but for me, it’s better as we had an amazing time with kids, no toys shop :), and there were food courts like every 750 meters -1 km, along with 24-hour Shrine Board Langar hall with an amazing garden (we stopped here on the return trip).
My favourite food courts were Verka where I had the mango drink and the last shop, Nescafe where we had some sandwiches & coffee. You will also get Bikanerwala, CCD, and Sagar Ratna too.
Starting of the Yatra
View of Mata Vaishno Devi Darbar in the Afternoon
Finally, we sat in the 7:30 pm slot car and reached the Darbar by 8 pm, as the battery car takes like 20-30 minutes. Had dinner at Manokamna Bhawan which is just next to the Battery Car stand. Good food & tea over here and that too at a very nominal price.
An amazing time at Darbar
After meeting a few friends near Ram Mandir, we reached the main Gufa by 12:15 pm, and all thanks to Mata Rani, we all got one of the best darshan.
The Pandit ji sitting near the Pindis gave us a good time to see the main gufa, and we were also lucky to enter the 2nd gufa (there are a total of 3) which was not open to the public. After the darshan, we also look at the water from Charan Ganga, just outside the exit gate, and also stood there for 15 minutes before Coming back.
View of Mata Vaishno Devi from Ropeway
The aerial ropeway from the Bhawan to Bhairon Ji mandir is fully operational. The operating times are 9 am to 5 pm. Amount only 100 rupees. The one-hour trek from Vaishno Devi Mandir to Bhairon Nath Mandir is very difficult for the elderly. It can be covered in 5 minutes with the ropeway.
The must-visit temple of Bhairo Baba
No journey to Mata Vaishno Devi is completed till you haven’t visited the Bhairo Baba mandir, which is a 2 km walk from the Darbar area.
The ropeway fare is Rs 100 for a return trip, and there is no waiting line for coming back as many prefer to walk down or stay some extra time near Bhairo Baba Temple.
Back to Katra
After sitting at Ardhkuwari for an hour, we decided to again take the new Tarakote route instead of the old route, as it was raining and then the new route had like 80% covered area.
We also had the chance to have the langar at the Shrine Board Langar Hall which is 4 km from Ardhkuwari. Here it is suggested to clean the utensils you have used, and if you can drop some donation after the meal.
We came down in 3 hours and reached our Katra hotel by 8:30 pm.
view of Katra from Tarakote Marg at evening
My suggestion is that the Tarakote Marg is good if you are travelling with kids and old guys, as it has a spacious road and a very peaceful environment where Mata bhajans are continuously running (all thanks to the Shrine board).
Day 5: Explore Market
Katra Main Bazaar is a vibrant market where you can find everything from religious artefacts and clothing to handicrafts and Kashmiri shawls.
The history of Vaishno Devi is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and legends. Here is a brief overview:
Legend of Mata Vaishno Devi
According to Hindu mythology, Vaishno Devi is an incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi. She is believed to have taken the form of a young girl named Vaishnavi.
Birth of Vaishno Devi
It is said that Vaishno Devi was born in the Southern part of India to a devout Brahmin named Ratnakar. She later expressed her desire to meditate in the forest and vanished into the Trikuta mountains.
Trials by Bhairon Nath
The legend narrates the pursuit of Vaishno Devi by Bhairon Nath, a disciple who became infatuated with her. Vaishno Devi took refuge in a cave and ultimately transformed into a powerful goddess, slaying Bhairon.
Discovery of the Holy Cave
The exact discovery of the holy cave where Vaishno Devi resides is unclear, but it is believed that a Brahmin named Pandit Shridhar discovered it centuries ago. The cave has since become a significant pilgrimage site.
Construction of the Vaishno Devi Temple
Over the years, devotees and rulers contributed to the construction and development of the Vaishno Devi Temple. The temple complex has evolved into a major pilgrimage destination.
Religious Significance
The Vaishno Devi Yatra holds immense religious significance, and devotees believe that a pilgrimage to the shrine fulfils their wishes. The journey involves a trek to the Trikuta mountains, where the holy cave is located.
Annual Festivals
The festival of Navaratri witnesses a significant celebration at the Vaishno Devi Temple, attracting a large number of pilgrims. It marks the triumph of good over evil.
Continuous Devotion
Vaishno Devi continues to be venerated by millions of devotees who undertake the challenging journey to seek her blessings and divine intervention in their lives.
The history of Vaishno Devi is deeply intertwined with the spiritual beliefs and practices of Hinduism, and the pilgrimage remains one of the most revered in India.
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