Trip to Vaishno Devi with family #VaishnoDevi

Trip to Vaishno Devi ( Jammu & Kashmir)

Complete details to plan the trip with family

History & Tourist Data:

This was another family trip to one of most visited & famous religious shirine in India  - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple. Mata Vaishno Devi temple is located at Trikuta Hills, Katra which is dedicated to Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Kali mother goddess. There are approx. more than 1 Crore devotees visit temple every year.  Katra is in Reasi District of J&K situation at foothills of trikuta mountain where holy shrine is located. Katra is at altitude of 5200 ft whereas Vaishno Devi temple is around 5800 feet.

Katra to Vaishnodevi temple – One has to trek 14 KM and another 1.5 KM trek to Baba Bhaironath temple.

Route:

One can plan to reach Vaishno Devi temple

-          Flight ( Jammu Airport) then take taxi ( 1500 for sedan/ 1900 Rs for SUV : TollTax extra – 110 Rs), Bus Fare : 60 Rs per person, Train fare from Jammu to Katra approx. 500 Rs ( 2AC)

Train goes till Katra Railway Station

Trek route/ options and process:

Registration:

-          Pilgrims need to register at YRC (Yatra Registration Counter) for the journey (Near bus stand, Katra), this is mandatory for the journey and need to produce at Banganga check post (1.5 KM from Katra), separate yatra slip is issued for each person

-          Yatra Slip is valid for 6 hours from the time of issue so, make sure that you report to Banganga check point within that else you need to go back to YRC counter to get another slip issued. This is done to control the inflow of number of tourists during peak season. During non-peak season

-          You can do the registration online as well through but, it can be done for max 5 person per account so, in case of more person, you need to have another account to perform registration, There is no validity where you must report to checkpoint within 6 hours of registration. There is no charge for the registration.

https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/Services.aspx

Trek Route:

-          There are two different route from Katra to reach Bhawan ( Mata Vaishno Devi)

o   Route 1 : Balini Bridge – Tarakote Marg ( newly constructed and inaugurated by Mr Modi in Year 2018) – It’s 7 KM distance to reach to Ardhkuwari, less crowded, clean route as no Ponni/Palki/Pithu operate here, less gradient compared to Old route, easier to walk but, 1 KM extra distance

o   Route 2 : Banganga Check post / Chetak Bhawan  - 6 KM to Ardhkuwari, Pithu/Ponni/Palkiwalla operate here, very crowded

-          Both routes are merged at Ardhkuwari and there are again two routes from Ardhkuwari

o   Himkoti Marg (new route where Battery cars are available, pithu/ponni/palki use this route mostly)

o   Hathimattha Marg (Via Sanjhichat) – there is steep ascend till Sanjhichat and known as old route

Battery Car Booking:

-          Ardhkuwari to Bhawan: Himkoti Marg

o   Battery car booking can be done at following site: (This is specifically for senior citizens, kids below 5 years are allowed & accompanied with senior citizens – no fee)

http://batterycar.maavaishnodevi.org/

http://batterycar.maavaishnodevi.org/BatteryCarServices.aspx

o   472 Rs for two person ( Bhawan to Ardhkuwari) ( 200 Rs per person – online) ( it starts from morning 7 AM to 10:30 PM & there are around 20 slots at different times)

o   708 Rs for two person ( Ardhkuwari to Bhawan) ( 300 Rs per person – online) ( it Starts from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM)

o   This can be booked minimum 4 days and max 2 months before

-          Old Route : Sanjhichat : There are again two routes – one goes to Bhawan and other goes to BhaironBaba temple, Bhawan is around 2.5 KM from Sanjhichat helipad

-          Bhaironbaba temple is around 5 KM distance from Bhawan and it takes around 1.5 hour to reach there, you can take ropeway also from Bhawan ( 100 Rs per person) – Valid for 1 hour, where you can reach Bhaironbaba in 5 mins

      

      Heli Ride:

-          You can also take Helicopter to reach Bhawan

o   Katra Helipad to Sanjhichat Helipad ( 5-10 mins trip)

o   Katra helipad is 2 KM from Katra bus stand and you can reach there by auto/taxi

o   Reporting time is 1 hour before the scheduled departure

o   Only 6 person can go in chopper at a time ( upto 2 years there is no ticket)

o   One side ticket is 1045 Rs per person, two way ticket is 2090 Rs

o   You can book tickets only through ( max 5 tickets)

https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/Services.aspx

o   There are two operators:

§  Global Vectra

§  Himalyan Heli

o   They operate from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM daily

o   There are around 16 slots available each day for Global Vectra so, around 150 – 200 people can be travelled each side using both heli operators in a day, this is the reason, it’s very difficult to get the tickets

o   Tickets get opened 60 days from date of journey and minimum 4 days before you can plan to book the ticket (Realistically, it’s very difficult to get tickets)

o   You can book return ticket as well which is at 3.5 hours gap

o   You can take approx. 3 KG luggage with you

o   You will reach at Sanjhichat Helipad (Alt: 6K Feet) and from there it’s 2.5 KM to Bhawan

o   Since it’s all descend so, won’t have issue in reaching Bhawan and it takes around 30 -45 mins to reach ( Sanjhichat is highest point at Hathimatha route)

Accommodation:

-          You can book accommodation using trust site as well

https://www.maavaishnodevi.org/OnlineServices/RoomReservation.aspx

-          There are two categories of accommodation

o   Rooms

o   Dormitory beds

-          The accommodation at Katra – Spiritual Growth center whereas Adhkuwari/ Sanjhichhat/ Bhawan is at Vaishnavi / Gauri Bhawan.

-          The Double Bed Hut charges at Vaishnavi Bhawan is 900 Rs and Four Bedded hut charges at Gouri Bhawan is 1500 Rs

-          The charge for Suite is 3000 Rs whereas double bed AC room category charges is 1700 Rs

-          The Checkout time is 10 AM for all complex

 Poojan

-          Individual Poojan –

o   Category 1 : 2100 Rs ( NRI/ Foreigner – 5100 Rs), total 50 token available for the day

o   Category 2 : 11000 Rs , total 2 token available for the day ( max devotees – 5)

-          SSVP Poojan

o   26K per person – only 1 slot available in morning & 1 in evening ( max 5 devotees)

-          Atka Arti Darshan

o   2000 Rs per parchi/ person : Total 200 slots in the morning & 200 in the evening

TRIP PLAN 

We were five people ( Myself, my father, mother, wife and our three year old daughter) I was planning from last couple of months so that there won’t be any discomfort to anybody in this trip.

The plan was to take train from HMH to Jammu, proceed to Katra in taxi from Jammu and stay in Katra hotel on that day and start journey to visit temple next day, return on same day and proceed to Jammu in taxi and stay overnight to board the train back to HMH on following day. We came to hometown in Diwali vacation and got this plan included in it. My mother was skeptical about the journey but, I assured her not to worry as we’ll be taking helicopter from Katra so, they can comfortably join us.

I registered everyone to mata vaishno devi trust website, waiting for the day when chopper ticket booking would be open. 60 days before the journey, I logged in to book ticket but, as expected, their server got crashed and couldn’t book tickets and later there was no ticket available in any slot. It was big setback as I had planned chopper trip because my parent has difficult to walk.

I started enquiring about alternate modes and got to know online that there is batter car also available but, it’s from Ardhkuwari only. Around one month before the journey, got to know that I can book battery car online also but, it’s only for senior citizen and kids( less than 5 years) can travel free along with grandparents. I booked two return tickets online for my parents from Ardhkuwari to Bhawan. Now, the plan was to book Palki from Banganga to Ardhkuwari and pithu for daughter and me and wife will go by walk.

We had to start on Diwali night, the train was from HMH station at 4 AM, the taxi guy didn’t turn up so, owner reached around 3:40 AM, by the time, we boarded taxi, it was around 3:50 AM,  the station was around 6 KM from my home and we reached at 4 AM, the train was at station, announcement was happening and it was about to leave when we all boarded train, train had to depart at 4 AM but, left around 4:10 AM and these extra minutes saved us to miss the train.

The action had started, and we got settled at our seat and did sleep for some time. We reached Jammu at 3 PM, there was escalators at station and I think at major stations, railway has put up escalators which is very helpful for visitors of old age or people carrying luggage.

We came out of station and I went to taxi stand which is around 200 meters, it’s prepaid taxi counters where I met with one taxi driver – Mr Satpal Singh, booked Dzire taxi in 1400 Rs + toll tax extra ( 110 Rs) till Katra hotel. Satpal ji quickly became like family member, continue to explain over the J&K situation post Article 370 abolishment, acted like a guide during the trip and we had comfortable ride till Hotel in Katra. 

We reached around 6:30 PM, boarded hotel and after quick shower, went to sleep as we had to start early in the morning for the Bhawan.
Mr Satpal Singh - Taxi Driver

29-Oct-19

We woke up at 4 AM, got ready, had tea/snacks and did check out hotel, deposited luggage at hotel reception counter, taxi was arranged by hotel as complimentary drop till Banganga check post.

We reached and there were hundreds of palki, pithu, mule owners who surrounded us to book services from them, there was fight among them to handover their ID card to us soon when they got to know that we needed two palki and one pithu. After bit of struggle, I had 2 palki owners ID and one Pithu’s ID, went to prepaid counter, paid 1800 Rs for one person till Ardhkuwari and 600 Rs for Pithu ( service charge for one person for carrying baby in Pram from Banganga till Bhawan). I paid total 4200 Rs approx. and started journey around 6:30 AM. We bought two stick for walking which is very helpful during trekking. The distance from Banganga check post to Ardhkuwari is around 7 KM and we reached there around 8:15 AM. My daughter didn’t like sitting in pram and was crying continuously to come out of it and this continued for around 30 mins, when she got chocolates/ candies/ juice, got settled and started enjoying the ride in pram.

We reached Ardhkuwari ( Manokarma Bhawan) around 8 AM and the battery car booking slot was at 8:30 AM , there was huge line and we got to know that it’s open for all age people and not restricted to only senior citizen. There was security guy taking online booked tickets for senior citizen separately and giving slip allotting taxi number. I asked my parents to start onward journey in battery car along with daughter, it was approx. 30-45 mins journey from Ardhkuwari to Bhawan.

They started around 8:40 AM and reached by 9:30 AM. My wife was in queue for additional two tickets of battery car, and by the time her number came up, the counter got closed ( around 8:45 AM) and we had to wait for another 1.5 hour to have counter opened. Meanwhile, one guy came to me asking if anybody needs taxi as only one seat was available but, slightly higher price ( 400 Rs per person) , we got agreed but, requested him for two seats and later he agreed to accommodate both of us and we reached Bhawan at 10 AM where we met with our parents who had bought Prasad from counter by that time near the Yatra Slip Counter No-2 / Locker number -1. 

Every pilgrim has to go to Yatra slip counter when they reach Bhawan and get their yatra slip checked and obtain the group token number. They can deposit their luggage in the designated lockers ( three lockers before entering the temple premise) . Nobody can carry leather item, wallet, mobile, camera etc inside temple premise so, they have to deposit it at lockers. 

I got to know that due to less number of tourists, it was not require to get group token number and everybody can go directly to temple. I tried finding locker but, all were occupied, the locker 2 & 3 near temple, there was big queue ( around 100 people in one line, there were two lines), they were waiting for locker guy to come and operate for them. I inquired nearby shops who were also offering temporary storage area in their prasad shops and one guy was ( Shop number 56) providing such service but, you need to take prasad from his shop, so, I also bought it and deposited all mobile phones, wallet, watch to him ( no deposit token, everything works on mutual trust 😊) 

I kept all the money and deposited rest everything at his shop and came at entry point of premise. We started around 11 AM and it took 1 hour to come out from the temple. There was little waiting time but, manageable as it kept moving. There was no rush inside temple and had easy darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. My parents got the lift that opens inside the temple so, they didn’t have to climb even single stair to reach to temple and they returned from same route. We came out and had breakfast after collecting luggage/ mobile/ watches without any issue.

We found that there was big queue at ropeway counter for Bhairon Baba temple so, we dropped plan to visit the temple. We noticed another big queue ( around 100 guys) standing in the queue for battery car and counter had to open around 2 PM, we also got in queue as we had to take additional two ticket( each person in queue can take max 2 tickets), counter opened at 2 PM and our turn came up in 45 mins, we were lucky this time, got two tickets and counter closed with us at approx 2:45 PM

Meanwhile, my father got into separate queue for senior citizen having online ticket issued. Since all battery vehicle had left by the time we reached there so, had to wait for another 15-20 mins for vehicles to turn up. It took again 30 mins to reach Ardhkuwari from Bhawan. The only problem with these taxi was, excessive honking, these guys were going one after the another and continuously honking and creating nuisance for the people who are walking along the route.

We reached around 3:30 PM and after some wait, got palki, pithu for Banganga ( Chetak Bhawan – PrePaid counter, Banganga Check post) in 4K Rs ( 1800 Rs each and 350 Rs for Pithu). 

There were lot of food shops route, filtered water, rest rooms, dispensary availability. The taxi operates in newly path – Himkoti Marg and from Ardhkuwari there are two ways, one is newly constructed / opened  - tarakote Marg ( only available for pilgrims and no battery car/ palki/ pithu operate there ) and Banganga route.

We reached by 5:30 PM at Banganga check post where asked Taxi ( Mr Satpal Singh, Dzire taxi – JK21-B-1026) driver to pick, he was in Katra so, picked up around 6 PM and went to hotel to pick luggage, we had snacks break for 1 hour and started for Jammu around 7 PM, reached LemonTree, Jammu around 8:30 PM. The hotel is just opposite to Jammu Railway station which was advantage because our train was on following day around 7:50 AM. 

It was amazing trip and didn’t have any difficulty during the journey & trek to Bhawan. Hope the blog will be helpful for you guys as well especially when planning trip with family/ kids.

                                                 Jai Mata DI!!!