Jammu - Himachal Yatra (Part 1)

The much awaited 9 day yatra to predominantly Devi Theerth Sthals finally arrived on a hot Sunday morning of 22nd May. This was the first time that we were going in a large group of 15 yatris and that too taking the same flight both ways ! We were 8 ladies and 7 men in this group. Each carried a cabin sized bag plus a handbag for the journey as decided earlier so that the luggage is manageable (a few managed to smuggle in an extra bag without anyone noticing).

We reached Mumbai airport early and had some time to spend at the lounge fortifying ourselves for the long journey of nearly 4 hours with a break at Delhi. We arrived at Jammu the city of temples by early afternoon. The weather was hot outside but bearable. We hired 3 Innovas to go to Katra where we were booked for 2 nights. On hindsight, we felt we should have spent the first night at Jammu and visited some of the famous temples there. Maybe next visit !

The taxi stand for Innova vehicles in situated outside the airport. It is a short 5 minute walk to reach the stand and book the vehicle at the special counter just outside the petrol pump there. It cost us Rs. 2150 per Innova for the ride of approx 50 kms.

The journey to our hotel in Katra (Rama Trident) took us about an hour from the Jammu airport. The roads were smooth with very low traffic. We were expecting some kind of high quality hotel, but it was a simple place with no major frills. The rooms were comfortable and the highlight, for some of our rooms, was the view of the holy Trikuta mountains on the background in which the holy shrine of Vaishno devi is located. 

Katra is a small town on the foothills of the Trikuta mountains. This town has come up predominantly to serve the huge rush of pilgrims who come visiting. All businesses are catering to the devotees be it hotels, restaurants, taxis, shops etc. We relaxed for a while at the hotel. Couple of our yatris chanted the Devi Mahatyam on the hotel lobby facing the direction of  shrine. Later we went to the nearby market for a stroll, some purchases of dry fruits etc. and a visit to a nearby small temple in the bus stand area.

We then had dinner at a newly opened restaurant (Vaishno Dhaba) where the food was ok but service was poor. As our group was large, it was natural for the waiter to be confused. We decided that henceforth we will sit 5 to a table and order separately so that there is some order. 

After this we returned to the hotel for sleep. We had scheduled the trip to Vaishno Devi temple the next day and we were hoping all will go well with the journey as well as the darshan. More about it in the next blog...