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Katra: Base to heaven on earth |
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2,473 ft above the sea level and 50 km away from Jammu lies the famous Ma Vaishno Devi Shrine, known worldwide as a major pilgrim centre. Annually, this place gets a whopping footfall of over 6.2 million. HolidayIQ member, Mr. Himanshu Gandhi from Delhi, takes you on a vacation in this part of the country. |
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Overview |
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Katra is a good hill town by itself, far from the usual hustle bustle of other foothills. Anybody willing to go for "Jai Mata Di" makes his base in Katra. It only takes 6 hours of uphill journey to reach the temple of Ma Vaishno Devi from here.
For the non-spiritual types, the scenic mountains offer great opportunities for trekking. The famed hill station of Patnitop is only a two hours driving distance away. Overall, Katra is a place that offers two in one package, pilgrimage and adventure.
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» Tourism overview of Katra |
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Sightseeing highlights |
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A trip to the cave shrine is by far the most important activity in Katra. Majority of the devotees prefer to trek up the 13 km route to the shrine, but there are other options as well. You can hire a "palki" or take a pony ride. The state government also offers helicopter services from Katra and Jammu up to the shrine.
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Few notes for the devotees: |
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- Pilgrims need to register their names in Katra before they start their journey.
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- The registration covers a travel insurance of Rs. 1 Lakh.
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- This adventurous journey covers a distance of 13.5 km.
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- The second phase of the trekking starts once the pilgrims reach the Vaishno Devi Temple; a 1.5 km trekking from here takes to the Baba Bhaironnath, which makes the circle complete.
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At a glance, the nearby attractions to Katra are Vaishno Devi, Jammu, Patnitop, Dalhousie, Pathankot, Chamba, Srinagar, and Pahalgam. |
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» Sightseeing in Katra |
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Culinary delights |
There are several options for those who have a good appetite for north Indian foods. Considering the sentimental factor of being near to Vaishno Devi temple, the hotels and restaurants in Katra serves only vegetarian dishes. Punjabi dhabas are available in Katra offering tasty “parathas” and “chole masala”. The authentic “Rajma chaval” made of Basmati rice and spicy “Rajma curry” is a must-eat dish in this place. “Kashmiri kawa”, a very tasty and famous beverage, should not be missed.
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Shopping extravaganza |
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It is a great place for purchasing spiritual objects as well as experiencing Kashmiri and Jammu culture. Shoppers should try purchasing items like Kashmiri garlic, walnuts, kesar, gemstones and pendants. The town also has a number of souvenir shops. |
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» Katra activities |
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How to reach there |
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Katra is 55 km away from Jammu Airport and from there, tourists and pilgrims can hire a taxi to reach Katra. The Jammu railway station has trains connecting to almost all parts of the country. Road transport to Katra is also good. There are helicopter services from Jammu to Vaishno Devi as well, making it a viable option for the senior citizens. |
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Tips to remember |
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:: The weather can be very much unpredictable especially during winter, hence carry extra woollen cloths. |
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:: From the airport in Jammu, it takes around Rs. 1000 in a non-A/c vehicle. |
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:: Stay away from the area during the elections.
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