Veshno Devi Tour – A Fruitful Pilgrimage for All

Though no one in this universe could comprehend the supreme loftiness of Maa Veshno, but as per Hindu myths, she was emerged out of the coalesced power of three divine deities Maa Kali, Maa Saraswati and Maa Lakhsmi. Even since her childhood she was a sovereign personality, even so full of fondness and benignity. She was the donor of health, wealth and Moksha. Today, Maa Veshno is being worshiped at holy shrine of Veshno Devi in Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, and blesses everyone who does her ‘Darshan’. It’s a popular belief that the Veshno Devi shrine is visited only by those who are called up by Maa Veshno. The holy temple of Maa Veshno is located at a mighty hill near the town of Katra in Jammu & Kashmir state. It’s situated at an altitude of 5300 feet and is surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. The temple is considered one of the sacred destinations in India, and has been thronged by millions of pilgrims annually. It’s believed that the people who get ‘darshan’ of Maa Veshno Devi are rewarded by all four requisites of human life: Dharma (morality), Karm (occupation), Arth (wealth) and Gyan (knowledge). It’s said that no one goes empty handed from this divine destination, and that’s why the place is the second most visited religious shrine in India, after Tirupati Balaji Temple. Katra is the base station for going to Veshno Devi Temple. This small town is about 50km from Jammu and nestled amid cloud kissing mountains. From Jammu, Katra can be approached only by road, as the town is not connected by Indian railway till today. The temple is further 13km up on a hill, and requires a long walk to be approached. However, ponies and palanquins are also available for those with poor health or physical disabilities. Helicopter services are also offered to make the journey comfy and time-effective. For a normal adult, it takes 5-6 hours to reach the temple from Katra. On the way to the temple, various facilities are provided – most of them are paid – to put the pilgrims on maximum possible comforts. The entire route is well maintained and laid out with all necessary facilities like lightning, water coolers and resting places. Facilities of toilets and subsidized canteens have been established at distance of every 400 to 500 meters. Before start trekking, tourists need to register at Mata Veshno Devi Trust Office Katra. A slip is provided after registration, which is later checked by temple authority. Being base camp of pilgrimage, Katra boasts all tourism facilities like accommodation and dining etc. A variety of hotels in Katra offer quality stay at varied rates. Katra hotels range from five-star hotels to economical lodges, and hence cater tourists of all profiles. Undoubtedly, a tour to Veshno Devi temple is fruitful, and gives overwhelming pleasure to all the visitors. To help in planning your tour perfectly, numerous travel agencies offer tour packages to Veshno Devi. Searching online, you can find your most suited deal.