Located at an altitude of about 2500 feet above sea level, Katra serves as the base camp for the Yatra (journey) to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine. The cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi is located at an altitude of around 5,200 ft. A railhead is being made from Udhampur to Katra to facilitate the pilgrimage. Katra is the last destination uphill accessible by any modern transport (except the helicopter). Pilgrims cover the next 13 km to the holy shrine on horseback, palanquins, or on foot.
Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages in North India. Trikuta hill is the base camp for the journey to this shrine. The holy cave of Vaishno Devi is considered the abode of the Mother Goddess, who is worshipped in the forms of Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi in India. This is not only a Hindu pilgrimage or simply a temple, rather a site of spiritual cleansing. Jahan Kosha, a huge cannon about one km from Katra, draws several tourists to see this craftsmanship of the 17th century. The canon is 17.5 ft long, weighs 16,880 lb, and has a girth of 5 feet at the touch hole end. There is a beautiful mosque 'Kadam Sarif' near the Johan Kosha, which is said to have a replica of the footprint of Hazrat Mohammad, the Prophet.
Current temperature: 18 degrees
Best time to visit: March to July, Yatra season to the Vaishnao Devi March - April and September - October
Experience type: Pilgrimage
Suitable for: Family
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