KATRA

Genral Information

Katra is a picaresque region in Jammu and Kashmir and it is known for its famed temple of Goddess Vaishno Devi. The temple is highly revered and every year hundreds of tourists travel to this shrine to pay their respects to the Goddess.

The beautiful town of Katra witnesses sub tropical climate all over the year but the best time to visit Katra is from March to November. Summer season in the city are quite warm and hot. Summer season in the town of Katra expands through the months of May, June and July.

Tourism

Katra serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno Devi. It has hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and dhabas. Free accommodation is also provided by some registered trusts in the form of sarais for the poor. The number of pilgrims who visit the shrine every year has increased from 1.4 million in 1986 to 8.2 million in 2009. A bazaar sells souvenirs, dry fruit, woolen garments, hosiery, and leather jackets. To reach Vaishno Devi, pilgrims register at Katra before starting the trek, and by registering, the pilgrims get accident insurance up to 100,000 INR while on the trek of 14 km. There is another trek of 2.5 km from Vaishno Devi temple to Baba Bhaironnath. Electric vehicles and helicopter services are available for pilgrims. A new ropeway system has just been inaugurated from the Vaishno Devi Bhawan to the Bhairon Baba Mandir, reducing the journey to time to just 3 minutes. The ropeway can carry 800 people every hour.