| More things are wrought by prayer than the world | | | | Air |
| dreams of'. And the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi gives | | | | From wherever you are, reach Jammu and then take |
| credit to this famous line of Alfred Lord Tennyson's | | | | the road to Katra, a small town about 50 km away. |
| poetry. Sheer faith brings in multitudes of people of all | | | | To Jammu |
| ages, races and religions to kowtow before the | | | | Jammu is connected air to Delhi and Srinagar; by train |
| Goddess, who showers her grace on each of them | | | | to all metros and important cities in northern India. |
| and grants them their wishes. The pilgrimage requires | | | | There are regular bus services from all major north |
| great fortitude, both physical and mental, as you have | | | | Indian cities like Amritsar (243 km), Chandigarh (436 |
| to climb mile after mile, uphill, before getting a glimpse | | | | km), Delhi (586 km), Srinagar (305 km) and Mansar (62 |
| of the Goddess. But as they say 'tough times never | | | | km). |
| last, tough people do' and millions of people make this | | | | Jammu to Katra |
| journey successfully, year after year. So can you! | | | | You can hire cabs from Jammu airport, railway station |
| History | | | | and the Tourist Reception Centre. Buses leave for |
| Mata Vaishno Devi represents the collective energies | | | | Katra every 10 minutes from the main bus stand at |
| of the three main goddesses of the Hindu religion: | | | | Jammu, the first bus is at 5.30 am and the last at 8.30 |
| Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati. Mata Vaishno Devi took | | | | pm. The journey is about 2 hours, but the terrain is hilly |
| the form of a young girl who spent her days in divine | | | | and winding. So if you are prone to nausea and |
| reflection at the base of the Trikuta Mountain, thus | | | | vomiting, then popping a pill is advisable. |
| empowering herself with great spiritual powers. The | | | | Helicopter Service (7 minutes) |
| following series of events, it is generally agreed, took | | | | There are daily flights from Katra to Sanjichhat, just a |
| place around 700 years ago. | | | | couple of kilometers from the holy shrine. If you are |
| Vaishno Devi attended a religious function at the home | | | | driving down in your own vehicle and do not wish to |
| of a pious Brahmin, Pandit Shridhar. Here, she was | | | | halt at Jammu, then head straight on National Highway |
| subjected to unwanted attention by one of the guests: | | | | No.1A. At Domel, nearly 35 km from Jammu, the road |
| a demon named Bhairon Nath. Accompanied by two | | | | branches off into two; while one heads towards |
| guards, Veer and Langoor, Vaishno Devi ran from the | | | | Srinagar the other leads to Katra. |
| Brahmin's home and made her way up the Trikuta Hills. | | | | Katra to the Shrine |
| At a cave in Darbar, she assumed the form of Kali | | | | It's a 13-km long arduous trek for those unused to |
| and cut off Bhairon Nath's head. Such was the force | | | | regular physical exercise. But most pilgrims do it, so |
| of her fury that the head landed several feet away | | | | lace up, chant "Jai Mata Di" and keep walking! If you |
| while the torso remained at the entrance of the cave. | | | | absolutely can't, then there are ponies and palanquins |
| However, in death, Bhairon recognised Vaishno Devi to | | | | that you can ride on. The Notified Area Committee |
| be the Mother Goddess herself and pleaded for | | | | manages these services. All porters, ponies and |
| mercy. Vaishno Devi forgave the demon and | | | | palanquin owners are registered with the NAC and |
| announced that the place where his head lay would | | | | carry identity cards. Palanquins as well as ponies carry |
| become a point of worship. To this day, pilgrims | | | | passengers, one at a time, of all age groups up the hill. |
| consider their pilgrimage complete only after making | | | | Porters, or pithoos as they are popularly known, carry |
| the tough climb to Bhairon Nath's temple, above the | | | | children up to 12 years (who are afraid to ride on |
| main cave. | | | | ponies), light-weight elderly people or luggage up the hill. |
| Meanwhile, Pandit Shridhar recognised Vaishno Devi as | | | | The rates for all these services are fixed. The charge |
| a divine being and began searching for her. Guided by | | | | per pony and per porter is up to Rs. 225. The charge |
| divine forces, he located the holy cave nestled in the | | | | for a palanquin is Rs. 2,075.00. Palanquins can be hired |
| Trikuta Mountain. There he found a rock form with | | | | from the Shrine Board assistance counter located at |
| three heads atop it. These three heads, known as | | | | the main bus stand, Katra. Porters/ponies can be hired |
| pindis represent the three goddesses Lakshmi, Kali and | | | | from Chetak Bhawan located just near the Darshani |
| Saraswati. The Mata then appeared before him in all | | | | Darwaza. Do not to pay over and above the fixed |
| her glory and asked him to spread the faith to one and | | | | rate for these services. A prepaid pony/porter system |
| all. | | | | has also been launched at Chetak Bhawan. |
| How to Reach | | | | |