Vaishno Devi Yatra: An Enchanting Journey

Vaishno Devi is a holy shrine and the 12 km journey to it is enchanting. Every year, the place witnesses numerous devotees and it is always overflowing with people. My family and I are some of the lucky ones who get a chance to visit the holy shrine and worship the deity almost every year. However, we couldn't go for the past 2 years due to the pandemic. In 2022, we finally got a chance to go on the enchanting journey and it was delightful.

Journey Prep

The journey is obviously not as easy as you think and you need to prepare well for it. The first thing you need to see is that you are not going at a time when the place will be crowded, especially if you have kids or the elderly with you. You should avoid going during the festive season such as Navratri.

We made our plan a week before we had to go. If you are going by car, then you are fine. However, if you plan to go by train, the first thing you need to do is to book the train tickets. The next step is to book the yatra tickets online otherwise you will have to stand in a long line in Katra which will be an absolute waste.

Once you have made the bookings, you need to pack for the journey. If you are planning to go during the summers, then you should pack good layers because the weather is extremely cold. The weather is pleasant even during the summers, therefore, pack a jacket to protect you from the wind. Make sure that you carry comfortable clothes as you need to walk for long hours. The most important thing is to keep your sports shoes that will support your feet and prevent them from aching.

Train Journey

We didn't have a lot of days to travel as all of us had work, therefore we wanted to visit the shrine and be back in a jiffy. We booked Shakti Express for Friday evening. You can take a half-day from the office on Friday and board the train. The train starts from New Delhi railway station at 07:05 pm. We booked our seats in the first AC and the price was ₹2210 per person. However, the prices vary depending upon the seats you book.

The train started around the estimated time and we were comfortable throughout the journey. We brought our food from home itself but you can also buy it from the vendors roaming around on the train. I would also recommend you to carry your own bedding for a comfortable journey as the train doesn't provide it right now due to the Covid restrictions.

We slept well at night and reached the Katra railway station around 06:00 am. We were allowed to leave the station only when we show our Covid vaccination certificates. We had those handy and got free with all the formalities almost immediately.

After this, we put all our extra stuff including the bedding in the locker as we didn't want to carry the heavy bags while walking toward the shrine. We got freshened up at the station itself and drank tea with light snacks from the station canteen.

The Journey Begins

We took an auto from the station and reached the entry gate. We got our yatra ticket checked along with our baggage and proceeded to look for horses. The first 6 kilometres which are halfway (Ardhkuwari) is quite steep, therefore we got horses so that we wouldn't strain our legs for the rest of the journey.

Once we reached the midway on the horse, we started our journey on foot. We took a few breaks on the way including a food and drinks break. We reached the top at around 11:00 am. We took 3 beds in a dormitory where we took bath, rested for a while and kept our valuables in the locker. We got the beds at affordable prices and it was quite comfortable.

If you can't get beds in the dormitory, then you can take a bath in the common bathroom area and keep your stuff in the lockers near the shrine. Remember to keep everything in the locker including your mobile, purse, leather belts, etc. Otherwise, you won't be allowed to enter the shrine.

Vaishno Devi Darshan

It took us around one hour to stand in the line and worship the deity. As there wasn't much crowd, we didn't have to stand in the line for long hours and also, we got a chance to worship without any hassle.

Baba Balak Nath Darshan

After this, we took our valuables like purses and belts but kept everything else in the locker and went to the cable car. It costs ₹100 per person and dropped us near the Baba Balak Nath temple. We worshipped and enjoyed the pleasant weather. After this, we went back via cable car. We rested for a few minutes, then started our journey back at around 03:00 pm.

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Journey Back

We walked all the way back and took only a few breaks for food and drinks. We actually took a long way as it is less steep. It is long but easy to walk back. Also, this way is mostly empty and there are no horses, therefore, you can walk freely.

The last 4 km were the hardest as our feet had given up by this time but you shouldn't let go of the motivation.

We reached the endpoint by 8:00 pm and it felt like a victory once we reached there. We took an auto to go to the Katra market where we shopped for a bit and had dinner. You can get prasad for your loved ones and souvenirs for yourself. There are many eateries that you can explore in this market including street-side stalls, sweet shops, Indian restaurants, multi-cuisine restaurants and many more.

Train Journey Back

We reached the station around 10:00 pm and waited in the lounge area for some time. The train arrived at the track at 10:30 and started sharp at 11:00 pm. We were extremely tired and dozed off as soon as the train started.

We reached the New Delhi railway station at 9:45 am and headed back home. As Sunday was a holiday, we got a full day of rest.

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Tips To Keep In Mind

• Book your yatra ticket online in advance.
• Book your train ticket in advance as you might not get a seat at the last moment.
• Pack comfortable clothes as you need to walk for a long time and there will be extreme physical activity. Also, you should carry something warm with you as it might be cold.
• Carry sports shoes with you that can support your feet.
• Start prepping your body for extreme physical activity.
• Keep a check on your diet and stay hydrated.
• Make sure that you don’t carry a lot of stuff as you need to walk with it. If you have a heavy bag, then you can hire a pithu (people who carry bags).
• Don’t carry mobile phones, animal products or any such items with you to the shrine.