Originally Posted by bluevolt (Post 2459812)

Friends, I and my elder brother are planning to visit Holy shrine of Maa Vaishno Devi in October.

We will be going by Air on Friday, 7th October (reaching Jammu in afternoon) and will be returning on Sunday, 9th October (reaching Delhi in evening).

Now I want your help/guidance. I (and my brother) have visited Maa vaishno Devi only once when we were 2-3 year old so we don’t remember much about that trip. We have guidance from parents but as time has changed we would like to seek fresh information from you guys.

Now some quick questions/queries.

-> Please guide us on how to utilize this period in best possible way.


Since you are going by air, so you should do the Darshan on on Fri-Sat night itself. Pack your luggage as per the following plan:

--------> Reach Jammu Airport
--------> Hire a cab for Katra (around 40 Kms)
--------> Reach katra and first of all take Yatra Slip from the counter at the Bus Stand (next to Jewel's Hotel on Katra Bus Stand)
--------> Have Lunch (if required)
--------> Deposit one bag at the cloak room of Shrine Board's hotel (like Niharika at Katra Bus Stand) and get the reseipt. Take another bag with you containing one pair of clothes each.
--------> Take the auto rickshaw for Ban Ganga
--------> Start the yatra (around 12 kms walk) from ban ganga onwards for the Charan paduka, Adh Kuwari and Bhawan
--------> Lots of retail outlets (CCDs etc.) on your way to Bhawan for Tea, Coffee, Cold Drinks etc. So no need to carry extra weight.
--------> If you face problems in walking then choose the new route for Shrine from Adhkuwari otherwise do the darshan at Adhkuwari and then proceed for Bhawan. New route is comparaltively flat as per the older route (via Adhkuwari - HathiMattha)
--------> Deposit the bag, belt, purse, mobile, camera etc. at the shrine board counter in Adhkuwari before standing in the queue. Its safe.
--------> After darshan at Adkuwari, proceed for Bhawan
--------> Go staright to your rooms at Vasihnavi/Gauri Bhawan
--------> Take bath in the attached bathroom if you can't do the same (its cold water out there) at the designated area outside the shrine
--------> Leave the valuables (mobile, belts, camera etc.) in the room itself
--------> Join the queue as per the time of your Yatra Slip no.
--------> Do the Darshan
--------> Come back to your room and sleep
--------> Check the room before Saturday noon
--------> Start for the Bhairo baba darshan
--------> Come back to Katra by Saturday evening
--------> Get your luggage back form the cloak room
--------> Do some shopping but please beware of the material you buy there
--------> Start for Jammu and stay in a hotel at Jammu on the Saturday night. This time you can take a deluxe / volvo bus to jammu. Hotel Jewel in Jammu is also a good place to stay. Here is the contact details page: Hotel Jewels Jammu, Best Hotel Jammu, Good Time Great Taste

--------> Visit Raghunath temple and other adjoining areas on Sunday
--------> If required, you can do the shopping here in Jammu also
--------> Catch your flight back to Delhi

Here is the site of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to book Shrine Board accomodation at different locations: https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/room_bok_new.asp

No idea if they are currently booking online. But you need to do it before leaving Delhi as it will be a weekend and you might not get any rooms out there. I would rcommend to book it ASAP once your iternary is finalised.

Above mentioned plan has been advised because you are going on a weekend and there will be rush on Saturday & Sunday. Therefore, do the darshan on Friday itself and then think about anything else. You should rest in the room at Bhawan because you are going by air and it doesn't make any sense of checking into a room at Katra and wasting precious time. Saturday night should be in Jammu because it will be comfortable for you guys to do shopping and visit Raghunath Temple on Sunday morning.

-> What other sites/temple we can visit in this quick trip.
---------> As mentioend above

-> Also please guide on how to reach Katara and Bhawan from Jammu airport.
---------> As mentioend above

-> Stay and food arrangements
--------> On your way to Bhawan, there are lots of good renowned coffee joints. Please avoid heavy meals during your walk to Bhawan.
--------> Manokamna Bhawan at Shrine
--------> Jewels restaurant at Katra Bus Stand
--------> Lots of choices in Jammu (one will be Jewels itself)


-> Can I carry my camera/mobile all the way to bhawan or I have to keep that in hotel.
---------> As mentioned above


-> Any other suggestions/tips to make this trip memorable forever.
------> You could have gone via road and is also do-able in these timelines.

Originally Posted by Irish (Post 2459901)

Hi bluevolt,

My replies are as follows:



Hope this information helps.

Please do share the travelogue with lots of snaps upon your return.

Please do let me know in case you have any confusions.

Jai Mata Di!
Irish :)

Originally Posted by Pottermore (Post 2460606)

Yes, you can surely expect much less crowd owing to the fact that navratra would have ended.
Since , you are going by air, I would suggest you take the mandatory Yatra slip from the airport itself .It is available at the shrine board trust counter in the arrival terminal for a payment of Rs. 50/- per person.That way you don't have to wait in the queue at Katra where it is free of cost. But fifty rupees for the convenience is not much.

Originally Posted by Pottermore (Post 2460606)

You will be back in Jammu by early saturday morning ,so after resting in Jammu through the day ,you can go to local temples like Raghunath temple and the market area around it which sells local goods but beware of high prices quoted by the shopkeepers .
Be very sure of what you are buying .Apart from that ,there is nothing much to do in JMU.

Originally Posted by Pottermore (Post 2460606)

Hire a taxi from the airport . they have fixed rates

Originally Posted by sachinj12 (Post 2545113)

Planning to visit in January. Is it a good time to visit this place in January?