Mata Vaishno Devi Darshan

Upon your arrival in Jammu, you will be greeted by our friendly agent at the Jammu Airport, railway station, or the ISBT, who will then take you to the Bahu Fort for a little sightseeing session in Jammu. The Bahu Fort is an ancient fortress situated on a hill by the banks of the Tawi River. The fort boasts of an impressive architecture and offers a nice view of the Jammu city. Apart from that, it also houses the Bawey Wali Mata Temple, which is a 19^th temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.

After this, you will visit the Bagh-e-Bahu, which is also called as the Bahu Garden. This picturesque garden is known for its lush greenery, tranquil ambiance, and beautiful fountains.

Finally, you will visit the famous Raghunath Temple in Jammu before heading off to Katra. The Raghunath Temple is one of the most prominent temples in the region that is dedicated to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple was built in the 19^th century by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir.

After seeking the divine blessings at the Raghunath Temple, you will continue your journey to Katra, which is also known as the Gateway to Mata Vaishno Devi. On your arrival, you will check-in to your hotel to drop your luggage and then you will have to head to the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra Registration Counter to get your entry slip. After that, you will return to your cozy hotel to have a delicious dinner and to grab a restful sleep.

We recommend you to wake up early today to avoid unnecessary traffic during your yatra (trek) up to the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.

So, after freshening up, you will begin your trek from Katra via either of the following routes:

1. Katra -> Banganga -> Charan Paduka -> Ardhkuwari -> Hathi Mattha Marg -> Sanjichhat -> Bhairon Ghati (optional) -> Vaishno Devi Bhawan
2. Katra -> Banganga -> Charan Paduka -> Ardhkuwari -> Himkoti Marg -> Vaishno Devi Bhawan

Apart from that you have these options to reach the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan:

• Walk up to the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan via Ban Ganga for about 12 kilometres. It should take approximately 4 to 6 hours depending upon your fitness level.
• Walk from the Katra to Mata Vaishno Bhawan via Tarakote Marg Gate for a serene yatra. The journey is 1 kilometre longer than the other route and should take about 4.5 to 6.7 hours.
• Mount on a pony or a human shouldered palki from Katra to the Bhawan (at your own expense). It should also take about 4 to 6 hours for the journey.
• Mount on a palki or a pony from Katra to Ardhkuwari and then ride on the electric vehicle to the Bhawan (at your own expense). The journey should take about 2 to 3 hours.
• Walk up to Ardhkuwari and then take the electric vehicle up to Bhawan (at your own expense). This journey should also take about 2 to 3 hours.
• Take the helicopter ride from Katra to Sanjhichatt (at your own expense). The total time to reach the temple from Katra to the temple would be around 1 hour to 2 hours.

Please Note: Kindly make sure to buy the tickets for your way back also while booking the tickets for your way up, and please be punctual with the timings or your tickets might be considered as void.

As you ascend up the Trikuta Hill from Katra, your first stop will be at the Charan Paduka Temple, which is a temple that houses the sacred footprints of Mata Vaishno Devi on a piece of rock. It is believed that these footprints were imprinted on the rock when Mata Vaishno Devi stopped here to check if Baba Bhairon Nath is still following her.

So, after embracing the grace of the divine footrprints of the almighty Goddess, you will continue your journey further up towards the Ardhkuwari Temple, which is a sacred cave where Mata Vaishno Devi meditated before travelling further up to her abode, now known as the Bhawan.

From Ardhkuwari, you have the option of either going via the old route or you may choose to go via Himkoti as that route is considered to be cleaner, more peaceful, and more scenic.

Finally, you will arrive at the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, where you will have to stand in a que to wait for your turn for the divine darshan of the almighty Goddess, who is believed to be an avatar of Goddess Durga. As per the legend, Goddess Vaishno Devi was believed to have been born to a Brahmin named Ratnakar. She is also believed to have left her home at quite an early age for meditation. Baba Bhairon Nath happened to be dazzled by the beauty of the Goddess and decided to pursue her from the Ardhkuwari Temple to the holy cave, which is now known as the Bhawan. Enraged on seeing Baba Bhairon Nath, Mata Vaishno beheaded him with such a great force that his head fell miles away on another part of the hill, while his immortal body lay on the entrance of the cave.

Moreover, it is even believed that the Pandavas came here during their exile and had built a temple for the divine Goddess. A couple of centuries later, Pandit Shridhar discovered the shrine after he was blessed by the divine presence of Mata Vaishno Devi in his dreams, who further guided him to the shrine. On reaching the holy cave, Pandit Shridhar was blessed with the divine darshan, where he saw Goddess Vaishno Devi, with three heads — one being of Goddess Saraswati, another of Goddess Lakshmi and the third of Goddess Maha Kali. It is believed that the Goddess still resides here in the form of three pindies (holy rocks) that are emerging from a single large rock which is submerged in water.

After seeking the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, you will proceed towards the Baba Bhairon Nath Temple as it is considered that the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi is incomplete without his darshan. The distance from the Mata Vaishno Bhawan to the Baba Bhairon Nath Temple is about 2.5 kilometres and you can go there by either:

• Trekking uphill from Vaishno Devi Temple (Bhawan) to the Bhairon Nath Temple, covering a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometres. This journey should take about 30 to 60 minutes.
• Taking the cable car from near the Bhawan to the Bhairon Nath Temple (at your own expense). This ride takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

After seeking blessings from the divine, you will head to your allotted room near the Bhawan to settle in for the night, surrounded by the spiritual aura of the sacred shrine. However, if accommodation at the Bhawan is unavailable (especially during peak season), in that case, you will have to descend back to Katra and check into your cozy hotel for a restful sleep.

Optionally, you can choose to start your trek from Katra to Vaishno Bhawan at night. However, it is not advisable due to cold winds and dropping temperatures. Additionally, you may need to procure the RFID card in advance for this journey.

Today, wake up amidst the divine landscape of Mata Vaishno Devi, relish a hearty breakfast, and then you will descend from the holy abode with a heart filled with gratitude and serenity.

In case, you were unable to get the darshan of the divine Devi the previous day, you must wake up early today, freshen up and head towards the Bhawan before sunrise to have a peaceful darshan. If you’re lucky and by the grace of the almighty, you will have a marvellous opportunity of witnessing the enchanting morning aarti in the temple. After this, you must visit the Baba Bhairon Nath Temple to culminate your yatra.

Enroute Katra, you must visit Ban Ganga to visit the holy temple and to take a refreshing bath in its pristine waters.

After making the most of your time relaxing in Ban Ganga, you will continue your journey towards Katra, where you will check-in to your hotel to grab some rest. Later, you are free to spend the evening exploring the vibrant local market, where you can indulge in delicious Kashmiri cuisine and shop for souvenirs.

Later, in the evening, you must return to your hotel in time to relish a delicious dinner and to grab a peaceful sleep.

Today, we recommend you to wake up a bit early to utilize your time efficiently as you will not only be heading out to visit the temple at Shiv Khori, but will also take a small halt at the Nau Devi Temple and Baba Dhansar, before heading back to Jammu to board the train, flight or bus back home.

You will start today’s spiritual voyage by first visiting the Nau Devi Temple, which lies on the way to Shiv Khori. The Nau Devi Temple is dedicated to the nine Goddesses who are considered as the avatars (forms) of the Goddess Durga. These Goddesses are Mata Shailputri, Mata Brahmacharini, Mata Chandraghanta, Mata Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Mata Katyayani, Maa Kaalratri, Goddess Mahagauri, and Mata Siddhidatri.

Next, you will visit Baba Dhansar, which is a sacred cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. This shrine is situated amidst a peaceful natural landscape and is renowned for its beautiful waterfall that cascades from the mouth of the cave.

This will be followed by a visit to Shiv Khori, which houses an ancient self-manifested lingam (a representation of Lord Shiva) inside a naturally formed cave that is roughly two hundred metres long.

After soaking in some spiritual solace at Shiv Khori, you will head back to Jammu through a picturesque route that offers captivating views of lush green valleys, cascading streams, and towering mountains.

On reaching Jammu, we will drop you at the Jammu railway station, airport or the bus stand to facilitate your journey back home.

Optionally, you may choose to extend your stay for the night at an additional expense and you also have an option to choose a drop to Delhi, Chandigarh or Amritsar via a cab, but at an additional cost.

As you depart from Jammu, bid farewell to the divine land of Mata Vaishno Devi and return back home with cherished memories and blessings that will resonate in your heart forever.