Vaishno Devi: A Complete Guide to the Divine Temple and Yatra

Are you looking for a spiritual and adventurous destination in India? If yes, then you should definitely visit Vaishno Devi, one of the most revered Hindu shrines in the world. Located in the Trikuta Hills of Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, Vaishno Devi is a temple dedicated to the three forms of the Goddess Durga: Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi.

Millions of pilgrims visit this temple every year to seek the blessings of the goddess and fulfill their wishes. In this article, we will provide you with all the information, tips, and packages you need to plan your trip to Vaishno Devi and experience the divine grace of the goddess.

History and Legend of Vaishno Devi

According to the legend, Vaishno Devi was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a young girl to escape the clutches of a demon named Bhairavnath. She hid herself in a cave in the Trikuta Hills, where she meditated for nine months. During this time, she was discovered by Pandit Sridhar, a Hindu priest, who was blessed by the goddess with four sons and the custodianship of the cave. The goddess also asked him to organize a grand feast for the villagers, who were amazed by the miracle.

However, Bhairavnath soon tracked down the goddess and chased her to the cave, where she assumed the form of Maha Kali and killed him. The goddess then merged with the three rock formations or pindies in the cave, which represent the three forms of the goddess: Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi. These pindies are the main attraction of the temple, where the pilgrims offer their prayers and offerings.

The name Vaishno Devi means “the manifestation of the mother goddess”. It is also related to the goddess Durga, who is the supreme power of the universe and the embodiment of the feminine energy or shakti. Vaishno Devi is considered as one of the 108 shaktipeeths or sacred sites of the goddess, where her body parts fell after being cut by Lord Vishnu’s discus. The temple is believed to be the place where the goddess’s skull or head fell, and hence it is also known as Mata Rani or the Queen Mother.

Things to Know Before Visiting Vaishno Devi

Before you embark on your journey to Vaishno Devi, there are some things you should know to make your trip smooth and hassle-free. Here are some of them:

Photography and videography are strictly prohibited inside the temple premises, as it is considered disrespectful to the goddess. You can only take photos and videos outside the temple complex, where there are many scenic spots and views.

There are many mythological stories associated with the temple and its surroundings, which add to the charm and mystery of the place. For example, there is a story that the goddess created a stream of water from her hair to quench the thirst of the pilgrims, which is now known as the Ban Ganga. There is also a story that the goddess left her footprints on a rock, which is now known as the Charan Paduka. You can learn more about these stories and their significance from the guides and locals, who will be happy to share their knowledge and insights with you.

How to Reach Vaishno Devi Temple

The temple is located at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level, and the distance from the base camp at Katra to the temple is about 14 km. There are different modes of transportation to reach the temple, such as by road, rail, air, helicopter, palki, etc. Here are some details about each mode:

By road:

You can reach Katra by road from various cities in India, such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu, etc. There are many buses, taxis, and private vehicles available for this route, which will take you to the base camp at Katra. The road journey is scenic and comfortable, and the cost and time vary depending on the distance and traffic.

By rail:

You can reach Katra by rail from various cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, etc. There are many trains available for this route, which will take you to the Katra railway station, which is about 1 km from the base camp. The rail journey is fast and convenient, and the cost and time vary depending on the train and availability.

By air:

You can reach Katra by air from various cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. There are many flights available for this route, which will take you to the Jammu airport, which is about 50 km from the base camp. The air journey is quick and comfortable, and the cost and time vary depending on the flight and availability.

By helicopter:

You can reach the temple by helicopter from the base camp at Katra, which is the fastest and easiest mode of transportation. There are many helicopter services available for this route, which will take you to the Sanjichhat helipad, which is about 2.5 km from the temple. The helicopter journey is thrilling and scenic, and the cost and time are fixed at Rs. 1045 and 8 minutes per person per way.

By palki:

You can reach the temple by palki from the base camp at Katra, which is the most comfortable and luxurious mode of transportation. There are many palkis available for this route, which will take you to the temple via the old or the new route. The palki journey is relaxing and enjoyable, and the cost and time vary depending on the route and bargaining.

Best Time to Visit Vaishno Devi Temple

The temple is open throughout the year, and you can visit it anytime you want. However, the best time to visit the temple is from March to October, when the weather is pleasant and favorable for the yatra.

The temperature ranges from 10°C to 30°C during this time, and the views are clear and beautiful. You can also witness the colorful and festive celebrations of Navratri, which is the most auspicious time to visit the temple, in March-April and September-October.

However, you should avoid visiting the temple in winter and monsoon, when the weather is extreme and unfavorable for the yatra. The temperature drops below zero in winter, and the snowfall and fog make the visibility and accessibility difficult. The rainfall and landslides make the route slippery and dangerous in monsoon. The climate is unpredictable and harsh during these seasons, and you may face many difficulties and risks.

Therefore, you should plan and book your trip in advance, and check the weather forecast before starting the yatra. You should also carry appropriate clothing, footwear, and accessories to cope with the weather conditions and ensure your safety and comfort.

Places to Visit Near Vaishno Devi Temple

There are many places to visit near the temple, which are equally attractive and interesting. You can explore these places along with the temple, and make your trip more memorable and enjoyable. Here are some of them:

Photo of Vaishno Devi 3/3 by — Bhavan-Bhairon Ghati Passenger Ropeway

Bhairon Temple:

This is a temple dedicated to Bhairavnath, the demon who was killed by the goddess. It is located at a distance of 1.5 km from the main temple, and it is believed that the yatra is incomplete without visiting this temple. The temple offers a panoramic view of the valley and the mountains, and it is also accessible by ropeway, which is a thrilling and exciting experience.

Ardhkuwari:

This is a cave where the goddess hid herself for nine months before killing Bhairavnath. It is located at a distance of 6 km from the base camp, and it is considered as the midpoint of the yatra. The cave is narrow and dark, and the pilgrims have to crawl through it to reach the other end. The cave is also known as Garbh Joon, which means the womb of the mother.

Sanjichhat:

This is a plateau where the helicopter and the ropeway services end, and it is the closest point to the main temple. It is located at a distance of 2.5 km from the temple, and it offers a bird eye view of the temple and its surroundings. The plateau is also a picnic spot, where you can relax and enjoy the nature and the scenery.

Katra:

This is the base camp and the starting point of the yatra, where you can find many hotels, restaurants, shops, and facilities for the pilgrims. It is located at a distance of 14 km from the temple, and it is a bustling and lively town. You can also visit some of the attractions in and around Katra, such as the Katra market, the Katra park, the Katra mosque, the Katra waterfall, the Katra fort, etc.

Patnitop:

This is a hill station and a popular tourist destination near Katra, where you can enjoy the scenic beauty and the adventure activities. It is located at a distance of 80 km from Katra, and it is a perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. You can also visit some of the attractions in and around Patnitop, such as the Nathatop, the Sanasar lake, the Sudh Mahadev temple, the Shiva Garh, etc.

Vaishno Devi is a divine and delightful destination that will fill your heart and soul with joy and peace. It is a place where you can witness the power and grace of the goddess, and also experience the beauty and charm of the nature. It is a place where you can fulfill your wishes and desires, and also discover yourself and your faith. It is a place where you can create memories and stories that will last a lifetime.

If you are planning to visit Vaishno Devi, then you should book your trip with Tripoto, which is the best travel portal for all your travel needs. You can find the best information, packages, and booking services for Vaishno Devi and other destinations in India with Tripoto.

You can also get customized packages according to your preferences and requirements with Tripoto. You can also read the reviews and ratings of the previous travelers who have visited Vaishno Devi with Tripoto, and get inspired by their experiences and feedback.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Vaishno Devi with Tripoto today, and get ready to embark on a spiritual and adventurous journey that will change your life forever.

Vaishno Devi Reviews

Aritra Roy

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Being a small town boy from Agartala in the northeast; hills, mountains and green forests had always fascinated me. And rightly so nature was and will always be the love of my life and it is also from here where travelling became an integral part of me. A passion for the rest of my life. Going through old family photo albums i see that i was not even a toddler when my mom and dad took me to puri beach, it was not even etched in my memory until my eyes saw the photo, A Travelling Toddler😜!!!!! Until class 5, my parents took me mainly to Guwahati during the summer and winter vacations, mainly by bus; no complains from me as i thought bus would have been the only option then. Now when i look back to those days i feel so happy and lucky to have travelled in bus for 24 hours back then without having to catch the boring flights. Unknowingly my dad was planting the seeds in me to become adventurous. And giving the red pulsar 180 in 2009 he fueled my passion to travel. I still smile when i think of the day back in 2009 when i planned an entire day for my first long ride of 25 kms. Sounds funny right seeing the distance but yes that was the spur. It was an achievement for me to ride to a place where i previously had to go by bus with my family. From then on there was no stopping. The rides never stopped and came in thick. I will not bore you guys now talking about my rides here, you all can feel my journey and experience it on my instagram page. Just a few clicks will get you to ami.jajabor_thetraveller. So yeah coming back to what i call "The Start". It was june in 2016. I was just back from Ladakh after a 2 week bike ride and was having lunch with my dad in my rented flat in kolkata. I used to work in TCS in kolkata then. I still am an IT professional but now i have shifted base to Bangalore.... ....My mom was serving and my eyes were glued to the tv. Why??? It was the movie EVEREST. The very sound of it still gives me goosebumps. I can still recall clearly the scene, Beck Wethers crossing one of the crevaces in the Khumbu glacier by ladder, a huge chunk of ice cracked apart and i uttered out "I WILL GO THERE SOME DAY". Blatantly my dad said "no need at all, theres so many other places to travel to, why risk your life going there". And i kept on saying let it be risky i will reach the top of the world someday. "Life is not worth if you are afraid of the outcome even before you take a step" and from that day EVEREST has been inside me and continues to grow. But so naive i was that i had never done a trek nor a hike when i was uttering out all those to my father. To add on to it, i initially thought that it would cost 3/4 lacs to reach the top. Hahaha what a mockery i made of myself. A few days later seating inside security check while i was flying to guwahati to drop off my girlfriend to IIM Shillong, i was browsing the internet only to find myself what i fool i was in thinking that it takes 3 lacs to summit. A bare minimum of 25 lacs!!! are you kidding me google. I recounted the zeros mentioned in that page with the slightest hope that my eyes tricked me but no, the other sites reaffirmed the same. Shattered to pieces. For a middle class family shelling out 25/30 lacs of hard earned money that too for climbing a mountain, the very thought of it is a syntax error. I tried thinking over it but my mind was just blank. Nothing, zero, nada... May be some places were only meant for the riches. Disheartened i was as this much amount was not something i can ask from my parents, neither could i save it all alone as i was in my initial phase of job, and with this i decided not to think about it. A month later my girlfriend planned for a hike to Vaishno Devi and we without giving it a second thought booked the train tickets and off we went. Reached Jammu in the morning, took a bus and by 11 am we were in Katra. Back then we used GoIbibo to book hotels and so booked one through it. Checked in, freshened up and in no time we were in the streets. Having digested a scrumptios veg thali we went to the tourism office to gather every bit of information about the hike. We dint have any knowledge about it, niether did we bother doing any research before coming. We planned, we booked and reached... come what may we will go and have darshan of the holy shrine. A 13 kms one way hike through paved ways also gives you alternates in the form of donkey/horse rides, palki or pitthu to the temple gates. A casual paced walk generally takes 5 to 6 hours to the top, the way back down is generally a bit quicker. Since we dint have much time and had already planned to leave the following day our main concern was the bhavan timings but the word from tourism office about it staying open for 24 hours cleared the air. So we both decided to start somewhere in the afternoon after a quick rest. Up in the lap of mountains the weather changes way too fast and yet again we were experiencing one right before our eyes. A bright sunny day changed to a cloudy one in a span of 2 hours while we dozed off in our hotel room. With no time to loose we took our bottles in rucksack and started off. The condition was overcast and we dint have our only saviour... "The raincoat". Also no proper warmers which we might need up top in night, how foolish of us. But there was indian jugad atleast to cater to the rains if it pours and it did start to drizzle within the 1st 500 metres, what luck!!! There were quite a few hawkers selling white plastics;"lelo bhaiya raincoat lelo" and that is what saved us to an extent when the clouds opened up. The path leading to the temple is well paved and has quite a few snack stalls, one could rest and recoup. But personally theres not a single moment one will feel tired as the chants of "Jai Mata Di, Saare bolo Jai Mata Di, Jor se bolo Jai Mata Di" from the devotees resonates the air lifting the spirits up. Our plan was to start by 3, reach bhavan by 7 pm and reach back by 12 am. Things seldom go as per plan. We started by 3, but were slowed down by the rains. Half way up by 5 pm, it had now started to pour heavily. The indian jugad somewhat saved the upper body but the backpack, shoes had no saviour. Completely soaked, we thought resting would not be a good idea as it would delay making us wear these drenched clothes for longer time. Luckily after 2 3 kms it stopped raining, phewww!!!! The valley below offered a soothing sight to our eyes. All green with the clouds above made us forget the pain we were in for the wet clothes. We can find positive energy everywhere if we keep ourselves open and looking around we could see small kids, gray haired elderly people who were in the same plight as us but were happily chanting "Jai Mata Di" and inching ahead. So never give up and never complain. Soaking in the mesmerizing beauty we reached the top at around 7:30 pm only to find a huge motionless queue. The gates to bhavan had been temporarily closed due to Aarti. A daily routine it was, but that meant we had to brace ourselves from the cold winds for atleast 2 hours which had picked up pace as the sun went behind the mountains. Finally when the queue started to move it was already 10 pm but it hardly took one hour to reach the main cave. The holy cave enshrines the stone images of goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. One can barely stay 15 secs to have darshan before being pushed off. Thats understandable as there are countless piligrims waiting for this auspicious glance. Let all the prayers be heard.... We turned around and trudged back in the cold of the night. The downward movement is always fast and less tiring but what i came to know is that it gives more pressure to your knees and by the time we reached base by 2:30 am my ACL's felt as if to tear off but deep down i knew that pain is temporary and what we just did might not be a big deal but it was THE START. When i look back to that night, it gives me hope, it gives me strength and positives vibes making me believe its all in the head. Theres power in our dreams and thought that we cant comprehend and when alligned in the right direction it leads them to us. Smitten by the rains and cold weather me and my girlfriend dint give up that night and on reaching back we were overwhelmed on how a simple thought can do wonders. Ma Vaishno Devi again imbibed in me not to give up on my dreams; the money is huge, the process will test my patience and the path agonizing but BADHE CHALO.... IT HAS JUST STARTED AND WHAT I SAID TO MY DAD WILL BE MET.... OTHER JOURNEYS TO BE CONTINUED...

Mayur Dev

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वैष्णवीदेवी ( जम्मूकाश्मीर )✨️❤💐✌️ http://Www.instagram.com/orchid_tours_travel अनेकजण वैष्णोदेवीला जाण्यासाठी कित्येत दिवसांपासून प्लॅनिंग करत असतात. पण तेथील फार माहिती नसल्याने अनेकांना प्रवासादरम्यान वेगवेगळ्या समस्यांचा सामना करावा लागतो. तुम्हीही वैष्णोदेवीला पहिल्यांदाच जाणार असाल तर काही खास गोष्टी जाणून घेणे गरजेचे आहे. वैष्णो देवी मंदिर यात्रेला देशातील सर्वात पवित्र आणि कठिण तीर्थ यात्रा मानली जाते. कारण हे मंदिर जम्मू-काश्मीरमधील त्रिकुटाच्या डोंगरांमध्ये एका गुहेत आहे. या मंदिरात पोहोचण्यासाठी १२ किमीची कठिण चढाई करावी लागते. वैष्णो देवी मंदिर यात्रेला देशातील सर्वात पवित्र आणि कठिण तीर्थ यात्रा मानली जाते. कारण हे मंदिर जम्मू-काश्मीरमधील त्रिकुटाच्या डोंगरांमध्ये एका गुहेत आहे. या मंदिरात पोहोचण्यासाठी १२ किमीची कठिण चढाई करावी लागते. वैष्णो देवी हे तीर्थक्षेत्र समुद्र सपाटीपासून ५ हजार ३०० फूट उंचीवर आहे आणि बेस कॅम्पपासून मंदिरात जाण्याचा प्रवास १२ किमीचा आहे. तुम्ही हा प्रवास घोड्यांच्या मदतीनेही करु शकता. तसेच इथे हेलिकॉप्टर सेवाही सुरु असते. किंवा हा प्रवास तुम्ही पायी चालूनही करु शकता. वैष्णो देवी हे तीर्थक्षेत्र समुद्र सपाटीपासून ५ हजार ३०० फूट उंचीवर आहे आणि बेस कॅम्पपासून मंदिरात जाण्याचा प्रवास १२ किमीचा आहे. तुम्ही हा प्रवास घोड्यांच्या मदतीनेही करु शकता. तसेच इथे हेलिकॉप्टर सेवाही सुरु असते. किंवा हा प्रवास तुम्ही पायी चालूनही करु शकता. जम्मूचं एक छोटं शहर कटरा वैष्णो देवीच्या बेस कॅम्प आहे. हे जम्मूपासून ५० किमी दूर आहे. यात्रा सुरु करण्याआधी रजिस्ट्रेशन करने गरजेचे आहे. कारण रजिस्ट्रेशनच्या स्लीपच्या आधारावरच तुम्हाला मंदिरात दर्शन करण्याची संधी मिळते. कटरा ते भवन(मंदिर) दरम्यान अनेक पॉइंट्स आहेत. ज्यात बाणगंगा, चारपादुका, इंद्रप्रस्था, अर्धकुवांरी, गर्भजून, हिमकोटी, सांझी छत आणि भैरो मंदिर यांचा समावेश आहे. जम्मूचं एक छोटं शहर कटरा वैष्णो देवीच्या बेस कॅम्प आहे. हे जम्मूपासून ५० किमी दूर आहे. यात्रा सुरु करण्याआधी रजिस्ट्रेशन करने गरजेचे आहे. कारण रजिस्ट्रेशनच्या स्लीपच्या आधारावरच तुम्हाला मंदिरात दर्शन करण्याची संधी मिळते. कटरा ते भवन(मंदिर) दरम्यान अनेक पॉइंट्स आहेत. ज्यात बाणगंगा, चारपादुका, इंद्रप्रस्था, अर्धकुवांरी, गर्भजून, हिमकोटी, सांझी छत आणि भैरो मंदिर यांचा समावेश आहे. जम्मूचं राणीबाग एअरपोर्ट वैष्णो देवीला जाण्यासाठी जवळील एअरपोर्ट आहे. जम्मूहून रस्त्यामार्गेही वैष्णो देवीचा बेस कॅम्प कटराला पोहोचता येतं. जे ५० किमी अंतरावर आहे. जम्मू ते कटरा दरम्यान बस आणि टॅक्सी सहर उपलब्ध होते. जम्मूचं राणीबाग एअरपोर्ट वैष्णो देवीला जाण्यासाठी जवळील एअरपोर्ट आहे. जम्मूहून रस्त्यामार्गेही वैष्णो देवीचा बेस कॅम्प कटराला पोहोचता येतं. जे ५० किमी अंतरावर आहे. जम्मू ते कटरा दरम्यान बस आणि टॅक्सी सहर उपलब्ध होते. जवळील रेल्वे स्टेशन जम्मू आणि कटरा आहे. देशभरातील मुख्य शहरांसोबत जम्मू रेल्वे मार्ग जुळला आहे. कटरा येथेही एक रेल्वे स्टेशन तयार करण्यात आलं आहे. दिल्लीसह आणखीही काही शहरांमधून इथे थेट रेल्वे येतात. जवळील रेल्वे स्टेशन जम्मू आणि कटरा आहे. देशभरातील मुख्य शहरांसोबत जम्मू रेल्वे मार्ग जुळला आहे. कटरा येथेही एक रेल्वे स्टेशन तयार करण्यात आलं आहे. दिल्लीसह आणखीही काही शहरांमधून इथे थेट रेल्वे येतात. वैष्णो देवी यात्रा तशी वर्षभर सुरु असते आणि इथेही कधीही जाता येऊ शकतं. पण मे ते जून आणि नवरात्रीमध्ये इथे भाविकांची फार गर्दी असते. तसेच जुलै ते ऑगस्ट पावसात इथे प्रवास करु नये. वैष्णो देवी यात्रा तशी वर्षभर सुरु असते आणि इथेही कधीही जाता येऊ शकतं. पण मे ते जून आणि नवरात्रीमध्ये इथे भाविकांची फार गर्दी असते. तसेच जुलै ते ऑगस्ट पावसात इथे प्रवास करु नये. संपूर्ण माहिती वाचण्यासाठी टेलिग्राम चॅनेल जॉईन व्हा https://t.me/joinchat/GRqka5DA9fv4udbG

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The Day was 2nd of October, I was having a normal day in my office in Gurgaon, listening about my teammates plans for upcoming Diwali vacations. we were getting 3 to 4 days off for our Diwali vacation. Everyone was excited to go to there home place and celebrate Diwali with their family. But unfortunately this was not possible for me as my family stays in Maharashtra and travelling to Maharashtra and coming back within 4 days was not a great idea for me. So 3rd October was the first day of my Diwali break, I was siting in the room ideally literally having nothing to do. Suddenly one of my close friends called me up and I started discussing with her about my situation. We discussed for a while and during the conversation she said why don't you go to "Vaishnov Devi", also it was Diwali on 4th Oct , would be so auspicious if you get to Bhavan on Diwali. I thought this is awesome and thanked her for the advice. Without thinking twice, I booked my tickets to Katra from Delhi. Everything was perfect. I packed my stuffs and got ready for my solo trip to Mata Vaishnov Devi mandir. My train was at 8Pm from Old Delhi railway station. I took metro from Huda City Center Metro, Gurgaon and reached Chandni chowk Metro from where there is direct entry to Old Delhi railway station. I reached station pretty early. Train was already at the platform as it departs from Delhi itself. but the doors were closed. I was waiting for the doors to get open so that I can get inside. Suddenly I saw another guy waiting for the doors to get open. I approached him and asked " Bhai Kaha jaare ho" He said " Devi ke darshan krne" I got excited and asked him " Akele?" HE SAID YES. I made him an offer weather we should complete this journey together. He was more than happy to do so. We shook our hand and from there our journey to the shrine started. Next day morning we reached Katra station. the cool and supernatural power of the mountains amazed me. for a good 15 mins I looked at the beauty of these majestic mountains and there it was Mata Devi Bhavan was clearly visible to me. We walked out of the station and started looking for room to quickly freshen up so that we could start our climb the same day. Soon a guy approached us and offered a room to us for Rs 500 per day . We bargained a bit but then finally we agreed at 500 and got the room. The room was pretty good with Ac and heater installed. after freshening up we got ready for a long day as we had to climb for 3 hours. So the total journey takes around 6 hours.( At least for us as we climbed with normal speed). I and my travel buddy Vigesh started our climb at 11 AM. After crossing several checkpoints on the route we reached Bhavan at 3 Pm. During this amazing yet tiring climb we got some mesmerizing pictures of the majestic Trikut mountains. After reaching the Bhavan we took a nice Darshan of Mata Vaishnov Devi and prayed for the well being of us and our family and everyone who is suffering due to this unprecedented disease. After Darshan we were all set to start our return journey as Vigesh has to catch the train at 9PM. I was going to stay till next morning. Will continue with the Downhill story in the Next part... Also will be giving some tips to remember while you plan your trip to Shri Mata Vaishnov Devi Mandir. I will also put up my cost and will tell you the most cost effective way to travel and spend 2 wonderful and peaceful days in Jammu. Stay Tuned....

surekhaprabhu

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There was a long queue at the top. We had a plan that one member among us would take care of mobiles and cameras allowing others to visit the shrine ,eventually that member would visit later. But the sight of long queue shredded this thought and we got separated from gang to deposit the electronic gadgets in the locker. Later handsfree, we visited the shrine, there is a separate queue for ladies and gents. The sanctum sanctorum of the Goddess is in a long cave with a narrow opening. There is no idol or sculpture of Goddess but three 'Pindies' signifying the collective spiritual strengths of Matha Saraswati, Matha Lakshmi and Maha Kali.The 3 Goddess embody the creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the Supreme Power. The scenery of Trikoota mountains is breathtaking.I collected the coin presented to every pilgrim as a token. After the darshan, I could not find my husband(Pradeepji) ,nor other members of my family, without any mobile, cash , I felt helpless, hungry thirsty . This separation was un anticipated, we had never ever thought that exit points would be different. When I decided to take help from announcement desk, suddenly I spotted my husband ( due to his orange color shirt). We ended up waiting for each other in different sides of the temple. After collecting the baggage ,we had lunch of dosa and bhaji ( service by Nirmala travels!!) .A thought came to my mind that without visit to Bhairo this yatra is incomplete. Hired a pony to carry us to Bhairo and back to Bhanaganga. Balancing the pony uphill and downhill is a delicate ,risky act, while ascending the rider has to bend down forward and while descending the rider has to bend back. Pradeepji was almost on the verge of fall from pony but I believe it is due to the blessings and kindness of Mata Rani, the pony walah held him tight. No part of his body was hurt, nervousness was evident in his face throughout the ride. Finally reached our hotel at 6.00 pm.By then my aunt and uncle had reached the hotel.My sister and her family had lot of experiences to share. Best practices to be followed when visiting any popular temple site Temples are thronged by more than 1 lakh devotees during holidays, it is a test to will power and patience, better to defer the visit Always decide a meeting place outside the temple , before getting into the temple, in case the partners (members )get seperated into different queues , not finding them after darshan of diety ,the experience can be disgusting Keep cash in different pockets , using waist body wallet is another option to diversify risk of losing money Preserve the yatra parchi till the end of journey, it comes as an insurance cover Note down the registration no of service people such as pony wallah, pittus and drivers

cupidtravellers

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Trip to Northern India – Part 1 - Holy shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi. Hola Cupids, Have you been to Northern Part of India? Whether “YES” or “NO” ,after reading these posts ( which we will narrate in different parts ) we are sure that you will be tempted and will have all kinds of urges and impulse to travel to these beautiful places which we are about to share. As such the Northern part of India has so much to offer for all the travel enthusiasts. However we wanted to cover these mentioned places within 15 days which should be must in your travel itinerary to Northern India. During this trip we adopted the principle of “Value based travelling” so that you can cover beautiful places under a strict budget. The amount saved can be used for your next trip.-:) Go through the post http://www.cupidtravellers.com/2016/08/top-ways-on-how-to-travel-cheap-within.html to know the Top ways on how to travel cheap within India. So folks the first and foremost thing during our trip to Northern India was to plan in anticipation and hence we booked the train tickets 3 months in advance. We decided to cover these places mentioned within 15 days and make the most out of our trip. We will let you know all the places that we covered as you go through these posts which we will write in three to four parts. So here goes Part -1. 1. Jammu/Katra – Visiting the holy shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi. So the first place we decided to cover was visiting the Holy Shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi. In order to visit this beautiful place you will have to reach Katra which is a small town situated near Jammu. The distance between Jammu and Katra is about 40-50kms.When we decided to travel in the year 2012 at that time there was no direct train available to Katra. So we had to book ticket till Jammu. And from there we hired a car to reach Katra. But now there are direct trains available to Katra. The train ticket will cost you around Rs 650/- per person ( one way ). So now keeping aside the itinerary. The road from Jammu to Katra offered some of the breathtaking and spectacular views and almost all of us ( we were going with 15 of our friends ) lost the sense of time and didn’t realized when we reached Katra.