Katra, the holy town that is most popular for being the pious land of Maa Vaishno Devi, is one of the most visited destinations in the country. Situated in the verdant regions of the Jammu and Kashmir state, the town is one of the most religiously significant holy destinations for the Hindus. Each year, devotees and tourists in the counts of thousands and millions, head to the town in order to visit the temple of Maa Vaishno Devi. The temple is one of the most revered Hindu temples in the nation with Maa Vaishno Devi as the residing deity. It is set on top of a mountain and one has to climb about 14 km to reach the temple from Katra. Most of the devotees prefer to walk. However, ponies are also available. Besides, there are palkis available for the elderly and the diseased.
Religion is perhaps the most dominant reason attracting visitors to the town. People head to the town primarily to visit the temple and worship the goddess. It is believed that meditating here washes of one's lifetime of sins and brings peace and wellness in one's life. Other than that, it is also believed that temple and the place themselves have the magical powers to cure some of the diseases. This why, many of the visitors of the town and the temple are actually diseased. Apart from the temple of Maa Vaishno Devi there are a couple of other interesting places to visit. Located about 3hr walking distance from the town of Katra is another religious place called Ardh Kuwari. In addition, there is one more must-visit temple in the region called Bhairo Baba temple. It takes about 2hr to reach the temple on foot. After you visit the Maa Vaishno Devi temple, the Bhairo Baba temple is the next must-visit temple.
Other than the religious sites there is not much to see and explore in the town. However, the nature enthusiasts and adventure buffs are going to find a couple of rewarding opportunities to relish. Katra is a pretty little town that is blessed by the nature in plenty. Beautiful clean regions, sky-reaching hills, virgin forests, water-bodies, clean air, clear sky, and rich species of flora and fauna, the place is simply a bliss. Plus, there are some excellent trekking trails not just giving one the adventure that he looks for but also taking him to some interesting places of the region.
The nearest railhead and airport to Katra are in Jammu. Besides, there are a couple of buses travelling to the town from nearby cities. If you are travelling from Delhi, there are direct buses to Katra. The good thing is there are some goodKatra hotels near bus stand, making things convenient for one.
Talking about accommodations, finding one that suits one's stay needs and budget is an easy affair. There exists a good range of hotels in Katra, ranging from the cheap hotels to the luxury 4 Star hotels. Hotel KC Residency, Hotel Bhargav, Hotel Asia Vaishno Devi, Devi Grand Katra, Hotel Jagdish Residency, and AMR Lords Eco Inn are some of the top rated hotels that one can choose to consider.
Martin Wynn
