There are a large number of places around Katra where you can visit besides doing the darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. Sometimes due to tremendous rush, there is a restriction to the number of devotees going to the top to the Bhawan. In such situations instead of wasting time, the best way is to move out of Katra and visit the nearby places. These places near Katra are an ideal blend of religion and adventure. You can find temples, hill resorts, picnic spots to suit your test and temperament.
There are enough places of interest for newly married couples to go for a honeymoon. After taking blessings of Mata Rani nothing is like moving to picturesque hilly spots nearby and spend a few days inquietude. Here are a few of those places.
Katra Attractions Places
Other than being the main reaching point for Katra, Jammu is a major tourist attraction. It offers a good mix of history, mythology and scenic beauty. Read More...
Hill Resorts Around Katra
There are quite a few hill resorts around Katra which you can visit before or after Darshan. Read More...
Aghar Jitto
Distance from Katra: 6 KMs
Location: At Reasi on the Katra- Reasi road
Aghar Jitto is named after Baba Jitto the legendary farmer who laid his life to fighting oppression by landlords. He was a great devotee of Ma Vaishno and a temple is built here dedicated to him. A three-day Aghar Jitto festival is the prime attraction of this place. There’s also spring water that flows in front of the shrine. It is believed that the water of this spring is holy. If a pre-natal woman takes a dip here then no harm can be done to the baby. A path from here goes to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine cave.
Dera Baba Banda
Dera Baba Banda is not only a major pilgrimage centre for Sikhs but attracts people from other faiths also. It is around 30 kms from Katra.
Kol Kandholi
Kol Kandholi should fall on the itinerary of every devotee seeking a darshan of the Mata Vaishno Devi. It is the first darshan of the entire Yatra and is located 14 km from Jammu.
Baba Dhansar
Baba Dhansar is known for a naturally formed Shivling. The temple is located on the way to Salal Dam and is 15 km from Katra.
Shiv Khori
Shiv Khori or “Home of Gods” is famous for the cave shrine of Lord Shiva. It is situated in the Reasi district of the J&K. The road from Jammu to Shiv Khori passes through some very scenic places. It is around 70 km from Jammu.
Sudh Mahadev Temple
The Sudh Mahadev Temple is said to be 2800 years old and with a strong mythological connection. The temple houses a natural black marble lingam and is 120 km from Jammu.
Gauri Kund
Gauri Kund is at a very short distance from Sudh Mahadev. It is basically a spring. Legend has it that Goddess Parvati used to bath here daily before paying obeisance to Sudmahadev. This spring gets its name from Parvati.
Mantalai
Mantalai is a place that is a few kilometers further from Sudh Mahadev, Mantalai is a picturesque place. It is surrounded by a dense cover of green deodar forests. Legend says it that the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati took place here.
Jhajjar Kotli
Distance from Jammu: 35 km
Location: On the Jammu –Srinagar national highway.
Jajjar Kotli is basically a picnic spot that attracts visitors during summer. There’s a tourist complex, on the banks of Jujjar rivulet. Good facilities are provided here by JKTDC.
Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary
Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary has located just 28 km from Jammu and is virtually a paradise for lovers of nature and wildlife. Read More...
Srinagar
Srinagar and the areas around provide ample opportunities to the tourists to enjoy the unbridled view of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks and indulge in some adventurous activities too
We at Kiomoi after a thorough research have zeroed on 10 activities that is a must if you happen to travel to Katra and then go up to the Trikuta Hills to have the Mother`s Darshan. These are as follows:
Trek: A trek to Mata’s Darbar is considered to be one of the most cherished activities. The trek may seem arduous in the beginning, but seeing the exuberance of fellow travelers would surely lift your morals. The devotees with Lal Mata Ki Chuuni wrapped around their heads and chanting “Jai Mata Di” really makes the journey an electrifying experience.
Helicopter Rides: Here at Vaishno Devi you can fulfill your desire to soar in the skies without spending a fortune. The Helicopter rides start from Katra and take you up to Sanjhi Chat. From the helicopter, you can get a panaromaiuc view of the hills. In our opinion you can take the downward journey by a helicopter.
Savor mouthwatering delicacies: At Katra, they do not use onion or garlic and restaurants serve 100 % Sattvik food. Yet the test is excellent. Whether it is crispy Chole Bhatures or Rajma Chaval the taste of the food is going to linger in your mind for a long time. Another excellent item on the menu is the tangy Aonla Ka achar( Indian gooseberry pickle).
Take Bath at Banganga: This is a must, the water of The Banganga is very cold yet taking a bath there on way to the Mata`s cave is an invigorating experience. There are separate sections for ladies and gents.
Navaratra: If you do not mind the crowd and have already booked your train and accommodation then we suggest a visit to Katra during Navaratras especially the Shard Navaratra. The whole Katra gets decked up with flowers and gets erected at many places. There are many cultural festivals organized in a sense the whole city gets immersed in celebrations for the 9 days.
Visit Nearby Places: Many people just do the Darshan and then come back to Katra and proceed to the home. Katra and Jammu have some amazing places around with Jammu itself being a major tourist attraction. Hills, temples, palaces, adventure sports you are guaranteed to have a nice time provided you are ready to explore with an open mind.
Buy Dry Fruits: At Katra, you can buy a whole range of Dry fruits Walnuts and Almonds are a specialty there. If you can bargain a bit be ready for some very good buys. You can even buy your stock for the whole year.
Drink Keva: This is a tea which perhaps you have never taken before. This is a special Kashmiri Tea. Drinking it would make you refreshed and forget all the travails of an arduous journey. You can buy the leaves of this special tea from Jammu.
Have Langar Food: Remember T series songs sung by Gulshan Kumar showing devotees lined up at Langars and eating food. This is one place where there is no discrimination between the rich and the poor, the have`s and the have not’s. Enjoy the piping hot food served by more than eager volunteers at different Langars on the way.
Enjoy Train Journey: The Train journey between Jammu and Udhampur is very scenic with hills and a series of tunnels in between. There are some 158 bridges and 10 tunnels. So buy a ticket and set out on a journey to see how the trains pass on some risky terrain.
Best Food in katra
Katra Eat n Dine offers numerous possibilities for food lovers. As Katra is very near to Vaishno Devi so to respect peoples’ sentiments all the Food Joints, Restaurants serve vegetarian food. At Niharika complex near Bus stand, you can get Shrine Board operated Bhojanalay. The food is good and hygienic and surroundings neat. There are a number of other good private restaurants, Punjabi dhabas serving proper food. If you are at Katra you must taste the authentic Rajma Chaval. The spicy Rajma curry and the rich aroma of basmati rice would surely linger on for a long time. Other favorites include Parantha, Chhole Masala, Shahi Paneer,
Coming to beverages, you must drink Kashmiri Kahwa. It is a spicy tea that is very popular during wintery nights or rainy days. Kashmiri Kawa has a warming effect that is sure to invigorate you. The taste of this exotic tea gets better with honey and a dash of lemon. This is the best thing to drink while you reach the plains from an arduous trek downhill after Darshan.
