Photo log of Vaishno Devi

My 4th trip to Maa Vaishno Devi. I took some pictures along the way. Hope they are useful. - Manish
Added on 2007-11-13 07:30:22

We started our journey via train from Pune to Jammu. Jhelam express is quite a dependable experience. It was only 3 hour late. Not much given it's 40 hours journey time and you are travelling in india.

Wether of September is still bit warm, but nice for travel. Just after the rains, you will be greated by lush greenry.

Jammu station. Rather quite and full with army personals. Wish I could have taken pictures of army people petrolling, but it was prohibited.

View of Jammu station. from outside.

Dhaba just outside the station.

Same is the place where you will get direct buses/cabs to katra directly.

After reaching to katra, lush green mountains will just invite you for a great climb.

There is a map of entire place available, but only half way through when you don't need it anymore. If you can read the map, probably it would prove itself helpful. Hint: Click on image to see bigger picture.

Start your journey as light as possible. Free lockers are available through out Katra.

Solid roads and stairs are available throught the way. Unfortunately they are also shared by ponies running around. Please be careful. I mean it. It's good to grow eyes on back of your head, or chances to get hit is high.

If you want easy ride for yourself and unpleasent experience for other devotees, you can hire ponies. They are available almost everywhere on entire track. Main destinations are Ardh-Kumari and main temple.

Drinking water is available through out the track. Tough shops are in more abundance and almost every shop has drinking water pet bottles available.

Pitthu's are available to carry load for you if you don't want to.

Most of the track is open air, but shades are available at comfortable distances. They also contain resting platforms. Very comfortable during rainy season. Shades are more prominent towards the end of journey.

Mata ka mandir. Just the sight of it is a real relieaver.

If you the time is right, Entire process of puja can take around 3 hours. But be prepared for longer hours depending upon rush. Tough not necessery, but Band on head signifies we have visited mata.

Conventional food is available at katra, Ardh kumari and main mandir. This is how typical menu looks like.

It is said you also need to visit Bhairo baba for Yatra to be complete.

Stairs could be helpful if you know how to climb. Trick is climb slow and with one foot at one time. e.g. Use left leg to climb 1 stair. Pull right leg at same level. Hold. Again use left leg to climb next stair. Repeat for 10 stairs Change legs.

We get there, after climbing around 1400 stairs. Entire puja time here is around 20-30 min.

Climbing down is much faster. This time you actually can enjoy scenic atmosphere.

Just one more to show how beautiful it was.

This is the type of tree you will be greeted most with.

Evenings are breathtaking. How can I not show you this. Remember, I am a ammeture photographer.

Most people visit ardh kumar while returning back. Unfortunately, lines are long here and Arti timings around 6 to 8 can delay your visit even further. A parallel path exists if you are not interested in holy caves. It is quick. Max 10 min.

Time to go further down. Beautiful mountain flowers are visible most of the way.

Prasad is available in abundence. You can purchase them while returning, or better at katra or even better, at jammu.

CDs, cassets of mata story are available. Almost all shops sell T-Series items. Gulshan Kumar is indeed timeless.