Katra Things to Do

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You can find a plethora of info. on the Vaishnodevi temple from its official website, which is the main reason you will ever visit Katra anyway. Here are some pretty useful tips, if I may say so myself, that I wish I had known before I went.

1. Though you know the temple will be crowded since it is perhaps the second most visited Hindu temple, seeing the beehive chaotic activity at Katra can dampen your spirits thinking, "How much worse is it going to be up there!" Don't let it. It is crowded at the top too but manageable and worth it.

2. The views along the way keep giving you a lot of fuel, mainly after you reach the mule-free zone of the walk. To see rolling fog over undisturbed green hills hits you in the right spot. The sights were much more beautiful than I had imagined.

3. Also encouraging is the sight of some devotees who walk barefoot all the 13.5 km and back. Through mud, mule presence, and anything else! One man was coming down walking backwards so that he still faces the Goddess and does not show his back to her. Another man going up was kneeling full body flat-to-the-ground after every 6 feet. Both at 3 in the morning.

4. The ascend itself is very doable. It should be no problem at all for anyone reasonably active. It is a walk, not a trek. Take the shortcut stairs whenever you see them if you want to cut the distance by a couple of kilometers.

5. Once you reach the top, stamp your ticket (which you obviously took from Katra before you left) but put any of your stuff and shoes/socks in a cloak room BEFORE you get in the line. That alone can take some time. Otherwise you will just have to toss everything to the side and hope they remain there when you get back.

6. From the start of the line to when you finally enter the cave is around 1.5 km. Yes. It will take about 2 hours through all the zigzags. [You will rejoice in the comfort of your shoes at reunion :) ]

7. Right before you enter the cave, the roof of the long tunnel leading up to it is all wet from 'holy' water. The water is in contact with the lights and wiring that illuminates the cave. Really.

8. Avoid reaching Bhavan between 7-9 pm because the line stops moving for those two hours to perform evening prayers. After 9 pm you start to move and take another hour to reach.

9. The least crowded time to visit: January and February. Peak of winter and some snow. Worst time: May and June because of summer vacations. July is also bad because the troops of Amarnath visitors also come here.

Have a good time.