Vaishno Tevi Temple Journey, Problems and their Solutions

It is always a blessing to visit the Vaishno Devi and especially when you are planning the visit to the temple by walking only as there is more hardship and planning required for visit along with kids.

There are now trains available up-to Katra and near Katra Railway station a lot of Hotels and Dharamshalas are available. There is following which are you are required to consider while planning to Vaishno Devi Bhawan:-

1.       Due to COVID-19 there is either requirement of complete vaccination (i.e. both the doses) or –Ve test for COVID-19. While visiting by train security people make separate lines for persons which have taken both the doses and persons which do not have complete vaccination. Checking at railway station generally takes out 0:30-1:00 Hr., so don't be in a hurry, you have to be patient enough for the same.

2.       There are so many hotels and Dharamshalas near the Railway station. Try to get accommodation near the main market instead of the railway station as you will try to visit the market at least for taking Prasad and other things. If these options are booked out then you will get accommodation near railway station very easily from where the main market is about 2-3 Kms. You will get autos for a visit to the market from your hotel. Infact hotels will provide drop facilities with reasonable prices.

3.       Always try to book all things in advance as you may even get accommodation at Vaishno Devi Bhawan as if you have kids along with you it will be difficult for you to return to Katra from Bhawan on the same day.

4.       Lockers:- There are free of cost lockers available at Bhawan but nowadays there is heavy footfall at Bhawan so it is not possible to get lockers before 1-2 hours wait. So if you have booked accommodation at Bhawan then you have no worries of lockers as you can place your belongings at your booked place as during Darshans at Vaishno Devi you are allowed to take only Money. No other things are allowed in the premises.

Even if you are not able to get the booking and lockers at Bhawan, even then you need not to worry about the same as there are private shops for prashad available and they are offering lockers facility at their premises. These private shops are available along the way to Bharonath temple and are adjacent to Sagar Ratna at Vaisnho Devi Bhawan.

5.       Food facilities:- There are so many private shops/ Dhabas which are providing the food facility. But try to get the food from Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Shops which offers good quality food at cheapest rates. Also there are filtered water facilities available free of cost along the route so need to spend money on bottled water.

6.       There are prams available all along the route for kids below 10 years. You can rent the pram or even along with a person which can drive the pram up-to Bhawan.

7.       If you have booked the rooms at Bhawan then you can even enter at Gate no. 5 where the crowd is lower and you can easily enter the Bhawan without much waiting period.

8.       Try to walk on a normal route and don’t use stairs as stairs will tire you more and it will become harder for you to walk up-to the Bhawan. The stairs are quite steep and long.

9.       You should cut the nails of your feet as during the downward journey your nails will strike the Shoes which makes it difficult for you to descend.

10.   Always Book your Yatra Parchi well in advance through online mode and get the printout for the same.

11.   Try to carry minimum things up to Bhawan as the more weight you carry, the more difficult it is for you to walk.

12.   There are washrooms available along the route but neat and clean as required to be, so try to freshen up for the journey.

13.   Best time for Darshans:-

Always Try to start the Journey early in the morning instead of a late journey as if you start your journey to Bhawan at 5:00AM in the morning then you will reach Bhawan in Maximum 6 Hrs. i.e. around 1:00 PM at that time you will get Darshans within 0:20-0:30 Minutes. And if you start Journey by 2:00-3:00 PM then you will reach by 8:00-9:00 PM. At that time you will have a maximum crowd up to 10:00 PM. This is because Darshan gets stopped for 2 Hrs from 6:00 AM-8:00 AM and 6:00PM to 8:00 PM due to aarti. So try to reach the odd time so as to get Darshans well in time as it will be difficult along with kids to stand in long queues when you reach after aarti or within aarti time.

14.   Prashad:-

Always buy Prashad from the Main Market at Katra instead of from shops on the route to Bhawan as these are costlier shops and will be difficult for you to carry the same along a long journey. At Bhawan where you are required to carry prashad to Bhawan always try to get from Vaishno Devi Shrine Board shops as they are offering at reasonable charges. But you don’t get a locker at Bhawan than get the same from Private shops as they offer locker facility.

15.   Bharonath Temple Journey:-

After climbing up to Bhawan and after Darshans most of the people try to avoid the Bharonath Temple Journey as people get tired. Also Bharonath Temple is quite difficult as there is steep climbing and the road is also not wide. Further Pony’s and Horses make your journey difficult.

Now ropeway facility is available at a very much reasonable cost of 100 Rs. up down so try to get the booking for the same. If there are long queues for the same than book pony’s for the same.     

In the Temple during Darshan you will have ample time for Darshans and you will feel grateful after Darshans. So get the blessing of Vaishno Devi after appropriate planning.