More things are shaped by prayer than the globe dreams of'. And the holy place of Mata Vaishno Devi gives acknowledgment to this well-known line of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry. Sheer reliance brings in huge number of people of all ages, races and religions to be traditional before the Goddess, who sprays her grace on each of them and grants them their wishes. The pilgrimage requires grand strength, both physical & mental, as you've to climb mile after mile, uphill, prior to getting a sight of the Goddess. But as they say harsh times never last, tough people do' and millions of people make this trip successfully, year after year. So can you! Luckily, there are many tour operators offering Vaishno devi Tour Packages that are very affordable and convenient.
History
Mata Vaishno Devi symbolizes the combined energies of the 3 main goddesses of the Hindu belief: Lakshmi, Kali & Saraswati. Mata Vaishno Devi took the form of a young girl who spent her days in heavenly reflection at the base of the Trikuta Mountain, therefore empowering herself with huge spiritual powers.
How to Reach
Air
From where on earth you are, reach Jammu and then take the road to Katra, a little town about 50 km away.
To Jammu
Jammu is linked air to Delhi & Srinagar; by train to all metros & significant cities in northern India. There are standard bus services from all main north Indian cities such as Amritsar (243 km), Chandigarh (436 km), Delhi (586 km), Srinagar (305 km) and Mansar (62 km).
Jammu to Katra
You can rent cabs from Jammu airfield, railway station and the Tourist Reception Centre. Buses depart for Katra every ten minutes from the major bus stand at Jammu, the 1st bus is at 5.30 am and the last at 8.30 pm. The trip is about 2 hours, but the land is mountainous and winding. So if you're prone to sickness and nausea, then popping a pill is sensible.
Helicopter Service (7 minutes)
There are regular flights from Katra to Sanjichhat, just a couple of kilometers from the sacred shrine. If you're driving down in your own means of transportation and do not desire to stop at Jammu, then head straight on National Highway No.1A. At Domel, almost 35 km from Jammu, the road branches off into two; while one heads towards Srinagar the other guides to Katra.
Katra to the Shrine
It's a 13-km long, difficult walk for those unused to normal physical exercise. But most pilgrims do it, so lace up, hymn “Jai Mata Di” and keep walking! If you totally can't, then there are ponies & palanquins that you can ride on. All porters, ponies and palanquin owners are registered with the NAC and carry identity cards. The rates for all these services are fixed. Porters/ponies can be hired from Chetak Bhawan located just near the Darshani Darwaza. Do not to pay over and above the fixed rate for these services. A prepaid pony/porter system has also been launched at Chetak Bhawan.
Last but not the least, look for a tour operator that is affording affordable Vaishnodevi packages – so that your budget remains under control.
Martin Wynn
