Even though Katra is a small town, it has gathered huge popularity as a tourist place. Devotees from India and all over the world who come to Jammu to visit the Mata Vaishno Devi temple almost always also come to Katra, this tiny temple town near the main Jammu City which acts as the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims. Katra is an independent destination in its own right, as not one but several devotional and secular places to visit in Katra welcome tourists from all backgrounds every year. This is the city from where you can hire ponies for the Vaishno Devi journey, bye beautiful woollen clothing like Kashmiri shawls and stoles and try the food of local Jammu.
Divine Tourist Places to Visit in Katra That You Cannot Afford to Miss
1. Mata Vaishno Devi temple
The path to one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India includes not only the main temple dedicated to Adi Shakti but also two smaller temples that make a part of the whole journey. These two temples are the Gita Mandir and the Charan Paduka Temple. The premises of the main temple Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir is 13 km away from the town of Katra. It is believed to be the most important Shaktipeeth where the head of goddess Sati fell from heaven. For Hindu devotees, the Mata Vaishno Devi temple is the most important of all tourist places in Katra.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 3 hours
2. The Banks of Bal Ganga
This relatively unknown Ganga is a prehistoric, sacred body of water where pilgrims like to take a quick dip on their way to the main temple premises. The banks of this river count easily as one of the most beautiful places to visit in Katra. Many tourists wrongfully believe that the name Bal Ganga originated from the small size of this holy water body. In truth, the word Bal refers to hair in Hindi, and indeed the story goes that Mata Vaishno Devi shot an arrow through the earth from where the river Bal Ganga sprang out. She used the water of this river to wash her hair.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: open 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 1 hour
3. Nau Devi Temple
The temple is 200 years old and is famous for its wonderful architectural choices. This is a perfect mix of religious and artistic beauty for those who want to experience something new among the tourist places in Katra. This Temple has 9 different forms of the Goddess Adi Shakti, all commemorated with silver ornaments. You can easily visit this Temple by undertaking a 10 km journey from the main Katra town.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: no official opening or closing timings
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 hours
4. Bhairon Nath Temple
How can one come to this town and not visit the prime spot for sightseeing in Katra dedicated to Lord Shiva? No pilgrimage journey can ever be complete without a visit to the Bhairon Nath Temple. This is the exact spot, according to ancient Hindu legends, where Lord Bhairon Nath asked forgiveness from Mata Vaishno Devi after he realized his grave mistake. Mata Vaishno Devi responded by forgiving him and giving him a blessing that he will forever receive the prayers and offerings of devotees at this very place. The Bhairon Nath Temple is one of the most important places to visit in Katra.
5. Baba Dhansar Lake and Temple
What location for sightseeing in Katra does not have a temple to complement it? The Baba Dhansar temple is, however, a bit different from all the rest. It is a small shrine located in the lap of nature in a tiny village called Karua which is 17 km away from Katra. According to a common tradition, tourists get up very early in the morning and trek their way to reach this temple. It is said that Baba Dhansar is a rarely known form of Lord Shiva who can grant all wishes of his truest devotees. This place is extremely famous during the date of Shivratri. A beautiful lake is attached to the temple premises.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: no official opening and closing timings
Time taken to visit: 1 whole day from Katra. Most tourists stay the night in Karua village.
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. The Nau Devi cave temple is 200 years old and located at a distance of 10 km from the town of Katra.
A. It takes 5 to 6 days to experience all the major places to visit in Katra properly.
A. The Vaishno Devi temple is open throughout the year, its daily timings being 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m..
Conclusion
A personalized and accommodating Katra travel package is the first step to planning a responsible journey to Jammu and Kashmir so that you and your loved ones do not miss out on any pilgrimage site! In reality, the town of Katra offers many opportunities to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place as well. This is why our carefully designed Kashmir travel package nose how to blend devotional trips with rest and relaxation to suit all tourists regardless of their age and temperament.
