About Maa Vaishno
Devi at Katra
 During
the Treta yuga powerful and evil forces had taken control
of the world. The combined cries of devotees inspired a divine
solution. Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati combined
their shanti's (powers) to produce a Devi powerful enough
to free the people of their suffering. That powerful Goddess
that they produced is Vaishno Devi.
 The
Vaishno Devi shrine is located in a cave towards the top of
the Trikuta Mountains in Jammu-Kashmir. There are three pindies
for Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.Vaishno Devi Yatra,
Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, Vaishno Devi Yatra Route, Vaishno
Devi Tours Vaishno Devi is mostly identified with Mahalakshmi
although She is the combined shakti's of all three. This is
believed to be the only place where these three Devi's are
found in one temple as natural pindies. The yatra, on foot,
starts from Katra and continues up the mountain for around
12 kilometers. The yatra follows the path Vaishno Devi took
when fleeing from Bhairon. Thousands of devotees make the
climb daily to have darshan. It is believed that Vaishno Devi
is the elder sister of the other seven Devi Mata's (Kangra,
Jwalaji, Chamunda, Chintapurni, Naina and Mansa).
 Katra
is the base camp for the Yatra to the Holy Shrine of Shri
Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. amd is located at an altitude of about
2500 feet above sea level. This is the last point uptill which
any type of modern transport can go (except the recently started
Helicopter service, which takes the pilgrims right till Sanjichhat,
just a couple of kilometers from the Holy Shrine). Therefore,
for all practical purposes, Katra serves as the base camp.
From here a trek of around 12 kms takes a pilgrim to the Holy
Shrine. One can undertake this trek on foot or on horses/ponies
or on palanquins (palkies or dolies).
The 13 Kms hilly track between Katra and Bhawan contains
number of ancient temples and view-points for rest and enjoy
natural beauty. The first stop is at Banganga, 1 Km away from
Katra where one can have holy bath in the Banganga and have
a Langer/Parshad (free food) run by famous T-series Industries.
The second stop Charanpadhuka is about 2.5 Kms away from
Banganga. It is believed that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji took
rest while moving towards the Trikuta Hills. The place contains
the foot prints of Goddess, and thus the place is named Charanpadhuka
Temple..
The third stop Adkuwari is about 3 Kms from Charanpadhuka.
Here one can stay for night as half of the journey is over.
At Adkuwari the devotees can have Darshan of Adkuwari Temple
and Gerbhjoon (an ancient Cave of about 20 feet). It is believed
that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji hide herself from Bairon Nath
in this cave for 9 months.
After a steep height of about 4 Kms from Adkuwari the fourth
and last stop is Sanjichat. The Sanjichat is the highest place
in the track. One can enjoy the aerial view of Katra, Udhampur,
Reasi and Jammu.
From Sanjichat about 2.5 Kms downhill track led to Bhawan
the holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. About 0.5 Kms from
Bhawan on the Bahawan-Sanjichat track an about 2 Kms link
track lead to the Bairon Nath temple. The track is further
linked with Sanjichat though dense forest containing different
species of wild life such as Langoor, Monkeys and other wild
birds.
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