Katra
2 Night Katra
A haphazard spread of whitewashed concrete buildings lie at the foothills of Trikuta Mountain. Why an insignificant town draws 8.2 million people annually is hardly a mystery. Katra is the gateway to the Holy Cave Shrine of Vaishno Devi that is on top of the mountain.

Many legends surround the goddess and each one claims that it is a sacred place and that the Mata will make all your wishes come true. At over 5200 ft the goddess is out of reach and a 13 km trek will lead you to her.

Largely influenced by the religious fervor of the devotees who throng its streets Katra stays in line with the beliefs and serves only vegetarian food and alcohol is not allowed here. It is still a small town at heart even when it seems to be in the eye of the storm during peak season and the Navratri Festival around October. A bazaar selling various knick-knacks is the only distraction here.

A helicopter will whisk you away and deliver you at Sanjichhat. If you can't trust your feet, a pony or a palanquin and porters will help you get to the Vaishno Devi Shrine. After seeking the grace of the Mata, if you still have some energy left in you, go further up to the Bhairavnath Temple. After a short rest and food at a bhojanalaya, you can make the trip down.07-0231-03