Katra
Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu, serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance for the pilgrims. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most Religious & Hindu Pilgrimage destination in India, located at a height of 5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. Maa Vaishno Devi shrine is conveniently located from Delhi. The Town Katra is 50 Kms away from Jammu and 35 Kms from District HQ Udhampur and is linked by road. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most popular Shrines of India.
The holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi is nestled in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas. It is located 61 km north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the cave there are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance for the pilgrims. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most Religious & Hindu Pilgrimage destination in India, located at a height of 5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. Maa Vaishno Devi shrine is conveniently located from Delhi. The Town Katra is 50 Kms away from Jammu and 35 Kms from District HQ Udhampur and is linked by road. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most popular Shrines of India.
The holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi is nestled in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas. It is located 61 km north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the cave there are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
| State | : | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Location | : | Udhampur District, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Altitude | : | 2500 ft above sea level |
| Population | : | approx. 7,569 (in 2001) |
| Sex Ratio | : | 860 females : 1000 males |
| Literacy | : | 70% |
| ISD/STD Code | : | +91 1991 |
| Best time to visit | : | March to October, November to February are freezing and is perfect for tourists who like snow capped regions |
| Temperature | : | Summer: Max. 40°C; Min. 20°C Winter: Max. 15°C; Min. 03°C |
| Climate | : | Sub Tropical, with cold winters and pleasant summers. |
| Clothing | : | Summer: Cottons Winter: Heavy Woolens |
| Local Languages | : | Hindi, Punjabi and Dogri |
Katra town serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine of Vaishnodevi in the Trikuta hills. Every year, nearly 4 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to Vaishnodeviji. Katra is 50 kms from Jammu. It can be approached by a road that passes through a stretch of beautiful valley.
Vaishno Devi Shrine
Trikuta hill is the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine. Katra is 48 km from Jammu . Considered to be one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage in North India , the cave is the abode of the Mother Goddess, who is worshipped here in the forms of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi. As the Goddess welcomes her devotees every day, the number of pilgrims in this hindu pilgrimage keeps on swelling year after year. Vaishno Devi is not merely a hindu pilgrimage; it is a site of spiritual cleansing and resuscitation for the heart that truly seeks the divine.
Jahan Kosha
Jahan Kosha, huge cannon, is about 1 km of Katra. It was built in the early 17th century by craftsman Janardan Karmakar of Dhaka . Kadam Sarif is a beautiful mosque near Jahan Kosha said to contain a replica of the footprint of Hazrat Mohammad, the prophet. The canon is 17.5 ft long and weighs 16,880 lb., with a girth of 5 feet at the touch hole end. The diameter of the touch hole is one and a half inches, and that of the orifice is 6 inches.
Shiv Khori
The Holy Cave abode of Lord Shiva is situated at a distance of 70km from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly half a kilometre in length with a 4 feet high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The cave is in the shape of Lord Shiva's Damroo i.e. wide at the two ends while very congested at the centre. The width of the cave is so less at certain place that a person can barely crawl through whereas at places it over a hundred feet wide and quite high too. There are lots of features which can be observed in the cave, however the best of them is the natural milky water dripping from the top to the Shiv-Ling symbolizing the eternity of the holy river Ganga.
Aghar Jitto
Just 5 km away from Katra is Aghar Jitto, the Shrine of Baba Jitto, a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and a revolutionary who led a campaign against the feudal order. According to legends, a dip in the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles to pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here leads to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Dera Baba Banda
At about 30 kms from Katra lies this major Hindu-Sikh pilgrimage centre. Baba Banda Bairaagi was Guru Gobind Singh's favourite 'Saint-soldier', who had the gurudwara constructed on the banks of river Chenab, where he spent his last days.
Baba Dhansar
Located 10 kms from Katra (1 km on foot) is Baba Dhansar, a beautiful and cool picnic spot. Here, a huge spring gushes out of the mountainside in a thick grove of trees and forms a number of small waterfalls before flowing into the holy Banganga. Next to the spring in a small grove in the rock face is a naturally formed 'Shivling' on which droplets of water fall naturally all the year round. A major 'mela' (fair) is held here during Shivratri.
Bawey Wali Mata
Just 4 km from Jammu Railway Station, there is an ancient temple of Kali Mata. The temple is inside the Fort called Bahu Fort on the name of its king, Raja Bahu Lochan, son of Jambu Lochan the founder of Jammu city. Pilgrims throng this temple everyday, but the rush on Tuesdays and Sundays is remarkable.
Excursion in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir
Deva Mai Temple
The Deva Mai temple is about three miles short of Katra town. Many devotees treat it as a very holy site and go there to perform paeans.
Shiv Khori
The Holy Cave of Shiv Khori is the abode of Lord Shiva, situated at a distance of 70 km from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly a kilometer in length with a four-feet-high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the sanctum sanctorum.
Pindian
Few miles away from Katra are Pindian at the foot of the Trikuta range. This spot is also dedicated to Vaishno Devi.
Baba Dhansar Temple
The temple of Baba Dhansar is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at a distance of about 15 km from Katra on way to Salal Dam.
Vaishno Devi Shrine
Trikuta hill is the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine. Katra is 48 km from Jammu . Considered to be one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage in North India , the cave is the abode of the Mother Goddess, who is worshipped here in the forms of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi. As the Goddess welcomes her devotees every day, the number of pilgrims in this hindu pilgrimage keeps on swelling year after year. Vaishno Devi is not merely a hindu pilgrimage; it is a site of spiritual cleansing and resuscitation for the heart that truly seeks the divine.
Jahan Kosha
Jahan Kosha, huge cannon, is about 1 km of Katra. It was built in the early 17th century by craftsman Janardan Karmakar of Dhaka . Kadam Sarif is a beautiful mosque near Jahan Kosha said to contain a replica of the footprint of Hazrat Mohammad, the prophet. The canon is 17.5 ft long and weighs 16,880 lb., with a girth of 5 feet at the touch hole end. The diameter of the touch hole is one and a half inches, and that of the orifice is 6 inches.
Shiv Khori
The Holy Cave abode of Lord Shiva is situated at a distance of 70km from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly half a kilometre in length with a 4 feet high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The cave is in the shape of Lord Shiva's Damroo i.e. wide at the two ends while very congested at the centre. The width of the cave is so less at certain place that a person can barely crawl through whereas at places it over a hundred feet wide and quite high too. There are lots of features which can be observed in the cave, however the best of them is the natural milky water dripping from the top to the Shiv-Ling symbolizing the eternity of the holy river Ganga.
Aghar Jitto
Just 5 km away from Katra is Aghar Jitto, the Shrine of Baba Jitto, a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and a revolutionary who led a campaign against the feudal order. According to legends, a dip in the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles to pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here leads to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Dera Baba Banda
At about 30 kms from Katra lies this major Hindu-Sikh pilgrimage centre. Baba Banda Bairaagi was Guru Gobind Singh's favourite 'Saint-soldier', who had the gurudwara constructed on the banks of river Chenab, where he spent his last days.
Baba Dhansar
Located 10 kms from Katra (1 km on foot) is Baba Dhansar, a beautiful and cool picnic spot. Here, a huge spring gushes out of the mountainside in a thick grove of trees and forms a number of small waterfalls before flowing into the holy Banganga. Next to the spring in a small grove in the rock face is a naturally formed 'Shivling' on which droplets of water fall naturally all the year round. A major 'mela' (fair) is held here during Shivratri.
Bawey Wali Mata
Just 4 km from Jammu Railway Station, there is an ancient temple of Kali Mata. The temple is inside the Fort called Bahu Fort on the name of its king, Raja Bahu Lochan, son of Jambu Lochan the founder of Jammu city. Pilgrims throng this temple everyday, but the rush on Tuesdays and Sundays is remarkable.
Excursion in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir
Deva Mai Temple
The Deva Mai temple is about three miles short of Katra town. Many devotees treat it as a very holy site and go there to perform paeans.
Shiv Khori
The Holy Cave of Shiv Khori is the abode of Lord Shiva, situated at a distance of 70 km from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly a kilometer in length with a four-feet-high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the sanctum sanctorum.
Pindian
Few miles away from Katra are Pindian at the foot of the Trikuta range. This spot is also dedicated to Vaishno Devi.
Baba Dhansar Temple
The temple of Baba Dhansar is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at a distance of about 15 km from Katra on way to Salal Dam.
Situated at a height of only 300 metres, Katra, Jammu has the three-season weather typical of the Indian plains. The best time of year in Katra, Jammu is the cool season from early October to about February-March. In October, immediately after the monsoon finishes, the weather will be cool and fresh, the skies clear and dust free. Later in the cool season, December and January in particular, it can get quite crisp with temperatures as low as 50 C at night.
In February-March the temperature starts to climb as you enter the hot season. By April, May and June it gets uncomfortably hot and dry. Since there has been no rain for some time the air is very dusty and the temperature scarcely seems to drop at night. Towards the end of the hot season the mercury sill sit at 400 C or above for days on end. Finally, the monsoon arrives around the beginning of July; the dust is immediately cleared out of the air although for some time the temperature change is merely from hot and dry to hot and sticky.
In February-March the temperature starts to climb as you enter the hot season. By April, May and June it gets uncomfortably hot and dry. Since there has been no rain for some time the air is very dusty and the temperature scarcely seems to drop at night. Towards the end of the hot season the mercury sill sit at 400 C or above for days on end. Finally, the monsoon arrives around the beginning of July; the dust is immediately cleared out of the air although for some time the temperature change is merely from hot and dry to hot and sticky.
By Air:
Nearest airport is Jammu airport, which is at a distance of 50 km from Katra, the motorable place nearby Vaishno Devi. Jammu is well connected with many major airports in the country, including Delhi, Srinagar and Leh. Almost all air service providers operate regular flights from Jammu. Taxi services are available from Jammu to Katra, costing about Rs 1500. International travelers can get connecting flights from Delhi airport which is at a distance of 663 km away.
By Railway:
Nearest railway station is also Jammu. This railway station is connected to all major cities in India including the southern most Trivandrum Railway station.
By Road:
The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation buses operate many buses from Jammu to Katra at regular intervals. Private deluxe bus services are also available from Jammu to Katra, charging about Rs 300. Jammu to Katra, state public buses leave at an interval of 15 minutes.
Nearest airport is Jammu airport, which is at a distance of 50 km from Katra, the motorable place nearby Vaishno Devi. Jammu is well connected with many major airports in the country, including Delhi, Srinagar and Leh. Almost all air service providers operate regular flights from Jammu. Taxi services are available from Jammu to Katra, costing about Rs 1500. International travelers can get connecting flights from Delhi airport which is at a distance of 663 km away.
By Railway:
Nearest railway station is also Jammu. This railway station is connected to all major cities in India including the southern most Trivandrum Railway station.
By Road:
The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation buses operate many buses from Jammu to Katra at regular intervals. Private deluxe bus services are also available from Jammu to Katra, charging about Rs 300. Jammu to Katra, state public buses leave at an interval of 15 minutes.
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