Tourism
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. Main bazaar of
Katra is famous for buying souvenirs, dry fruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc.
Aghar Jitto
The Shrine of Baba Jitto is Just 5 km away from Katra, 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
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. It is about 30 kms from Katra lies this major Hindu-Sikh pilgrimage centre.
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 is the rock face which 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.
Shiv Khori
This holy cave is nearly a kilometre long and houses a 4 ft high, naturally formed ‘Shivling’. It is considered second only to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in religious importance. There are stalactites & stalagmites dripping milky limestone water from the ceiling. Situated at a distance of about 100 kms from Jammu and about 75 kms from Katra, Shiv Khori hosts a major fair on Shivratri day every year.
How to reach Vaisno Devi
By Air: Jammu is the nearest airport. Jammu's civil airport at Ranibagh is 9 km from the city center.
By Rail: Jammu is the nearest railhead, which lies on the other side of the Tawi River. Jammu is connected by train to all major states of India. It is about 1314 hour’s rail travel distance from Delhi and from Jammu, the visitors have to proceed by bus up to Katra. The journey is about 2 hours through zigzag roads cutting across many hill-locks. The pilgrims enjoy traveling by bus as many picturesque places fall in between Jammu & Katra.
By Road: Katra the base camp is 50km from Jammu and 650 kms from Delhi.Regular bus services to Katra are also available from a number of north Indian towns. During peak season, additional buses are pressed into service.Taxis and buses are available from Jammu to Katra at frequent intervals.
Vaishno Devi - Jammu & Kashmir
Vaishno-Devi is situated in the Trikuta Mountains of lower Himalayas at an altitude of 5300 feet in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine is approachable on foot along a 13 kms trek from Katra town at the foot of the hills. The shrine is located in the place where the goddess abandoned her human form for her communion with the holy trinity. The 100 feet long sacred cave is placed at a distance of 13 kilometers from the base camp, which is situated in Katra. Katra is connected through roads to the city of Udhampur, which is 35 kilometers away from the shrine and Jammu situated at a distance of 50 kilometers.
