Vaishno Devi
Prem Se Bolo - Jai Mata Di

Vaishno Devi Yatra

The Yatra begins at Katra and pilgrims have to cover 13 km. of terrain on foot to reach the Darbar. One kilometer away from Katra, you would find Banganga, place where Mata quenched her thirst and at 6 km., the holy cave at Adhkawari.

Yatris are advised to obtain a yatra slip only from the Yatra Registration Counter at the Tourism Reception Centre, Katra Bus Stand and nowhere els.e. Without an authentic yatra slip, crossing of Banganga checkpost will not be allowed. The Yatra Slip is absolutely free but is necessary to commence the Yatra.

You can obtain caps, canvas shoes, sticks etc. on hire for the Yatra. Pithus (people who carry weight on their backs) can be hired for carrying your luggage.

Those who have problems in climbing on the mountains, can hire the services of a pony or dandi (palenquin). Pithus can be hired for carrying the children on shoulders. It is advised that you should avail of the services of only registered people be it the pithu, pony or the dandiwalla and keep his token for the period he is engaged.

The entire 13 km route is quite wide and tiled. Besides, the whole path is lit up every night by powerful sodium vapour lamps.

The whole route is swept and cleaned from time to time throughout the day. Yatris are requested to keep the path clean.

Shelter cum sheds and shelter cum cafeterias are setup throughout the route. Pure vegetarian food is available at these outlets. Price charts are exhibited at all these outlets prominently.

Drinking water has been made available all along the route, with water coolers and storage facilities.

Public utilities with automatic flushing systems along the track and at the Bhawan.

After 6 km. of trekking, you would reach Adhkawari, the holy cave where Mata meditated for nine months. Do visit the cave.

After 9.5 km., you would reach Sanji Chhat where you can rest for sometime. Accommodation is also available at this place. Bhawan is just 3.5 km. away.

On reaching Bhawan, show your Yatra Slip at the Registration Office and obtain the Batch no. provided on the slip. This number is important as it will determine your place in the queue for darshan.

On reaching Bhawan, have a bath and change your clothes. Be sure to get your luggage and leather items booked in the cloak rooms and obtain the receipt. Book the valuables separately and obtain the receipt.

You can also get blankets on refundable deposit for Rs.100.

Buy Prasad, Chunri and Coconuts from the shops situated at the entrance of the Bhawan.

Appropriate Season

The shrine is visited all through the year, but the path is difficult during the winters due to snowfall.

Location

Mata's cave shrine is nestled in the mighty Trikuta mountain 61 kilometres north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Access

Airway :
Nearest airport - Jammu (48 km from Katra)
Daily Flights are available from Delhi and Srinagar. These flights (Indian Airlines) connect Chandigarh & Amritsar on some days of the week.

Railway :
Nearest Railway Station - Jammu By rail, Jammu is directly connected cities like Calcutta, Delhi and Kanyakumari. Besides, it is connected with other major cities of the country.

Roadways :
Jammu is the terminus of a large number of Inter State Bus Services.

Jammu to Katra :
Buses leave for Katra every 10 minutes from the main bus stand at Jammu between 5.30 am to 8.30 pm. During rush periods, additional buses are also pressed into service between Jammu and Katra.
Private Taxis are also available for hire between Jammu and Katra. These can be hired from Jammu Airport, Jammu Railway Station and the Tourist Reception Centre at Jammu.

Stay Options

Jammu
Yatri Niwas managed by the Shrine Board. Various private hotels, the room rent ranging from Rs.300/- per day to Rs.3000/- per day.

Katra
Yatri Niwas managed by the Shrine Board, Rest Houses maintained by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, other hotels.

Sarais, managed by the Shrine Board offer free accomodation at Adhkawari, Sanjichhat and Darbar. Dharamshala, run by various organisations offer reasonable accommodation to the pilgrims. Yatris are however advised to keep themselves away from touts promising free Dharamshala accomodation.

Saanchi jyotaan waali mata, teri jai-jai kaar -2.

Toone mujhe bulaayaa Sheraawaaliye, main aaya main aaya Sheraawaliye
O Jyotaanwaaliye, Pahadaanwaaliye, O Mehraanwaaliye || Toone ||

Saara jag hai, ek banjara, sabki manzil tera dwaara,
Oonche parvat lamba rasta -2, par main na rah paya Sheraawaaliye |
Main aaya main aaya Sheraawaliye ||

Soone man mein jal gai baati, tere path mein mil gaye saathi,
Toone sabko darshan dekar -2, apne gale lagaya Sheraawaaliye |
Main aaya main aaya Sheraawaliye ||

Kaun hai raja, kaun bhikari, ek barabar tere saare pujari,
Munh kholun kya tujh se maangun -2, bin maange sab paaya Sheraawaaliye |
Main aaya main aaya Sheraawaliye ||

Prem se bolo jai mata ki, saare bolo jai mata ki
Ho chalo yatra karne bhagton chalo chalen,
parvat parvat chadte jao, jai mata ki kehte jaao,
maa ke darshan karne bhakton chalo chalen... chalo yatra karne...

Ye Vaishno Maa ke dwara hai, yahan behti jal ki dhara hai - 2,
Ye teen pindiyon ka mandir hai, jo teen lok se nyara hai -2,
Yahan mile kinara doobe ko-2,
Bhavsagar se tarne bhakton chalo chalen... chalo yatra karne...

Jagdani mata Chamunda ke charnon ka mil ke dhyan dharo,
kalyan ho jaaye paapon se kalyani ke gungaan karo-2,
Maharani Kaangre wali ki...
Sab mil ke haajri bharne bhakton chalo chalen... chalo yatra karne...

Maa Ambe mata jwala ki sadiyon se pooja hoti hai -2,
Mansa Devi bhakton ki har mansa poori karti hai,
Jo bina tel ki jalti hai, ye maa shakti ki jyoti hai -2,
Maa Chintapoorni ke dar pe,
Sab man ki chinta harne bhakton chalo chalen... chalo yatra karne...

Maa Mansa Devi bhakton ki har mansa poori karti hai,
Maharani Kalka rani ye sankat aur vipda harti hai,
Bhakton ke phal aur phoolon se...
Ye jeevan jholi bharne bhakton chalo chalen... chalo yatra karne...

Sun meri devi parvat vasini, tera paar na paaya ||
Paan supari dhwaja nariyal, le teri bhent chadhaya ||
Suwa choli tere ang viraje, kesar tilak lagaya ||
Nange paanv tere akbar aakar, sone ka chhatra chadhaya ||
Oonche parvat bana devalay, neeche shahar basaya ||
Satyug, treta, dwapar madhye kaliyug raj sawaya ||
Dhoop, deep, naivedya, aarti mohan bhog lagaya ||
Dhyanu bhakt maiya tera gun gaave manvaanchhit phal paaya ||