A simple travelogue
When we decided to go to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, Jammu, it took three years to finalize the trip. When my daughter was stranded in my mother’s home when the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed in India without giving us a single chance to make sure that our near and dear ones were back with us safely, I vowed to go to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple for my daughter’s return.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience to have her back, due to a tough situation all because of the unplanned and inhumane decision to impose a lockdown all of a sudden.
After so many futile tries, we could bring her back to us, and when we reset ourselves into the country’s capital, Delhi, we found it easy to go to Jammu.
It was a pleasant train journey ( We had to go to the temple from Banganga on foot ).
We arrived at Katra in the morning, checked into the hotel, freshened up, and then headed to obtain our travel permit from the nearby government kiosk. We started for the temple a little after having lunch. It was 3 pm when we arrived in Banganga.
With all our nerve and verve, we started our spiritual journey to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. Located at about 5200 altitude, so was our attitude to enjoy our trip that it was 11 pm when we entered Bhawan, the entrance of the main shrine.
We chose to reach the holy temple on foot, without any assistance.
Trust me, the journey will not only be fulfilling but also enrich your soul.
After walking for eight hours, with countless stops at various places, we finally made it to the temple entrance, and surprisingly, we were not tired.
We freshened up, stored our luggage in the locker, and headed to the temple. At 1 am we were in the sanctum sanctorum, it was divine, it was surreal, it was actually beyond words.
Spirituality is an absolute necessity.-
I don’t understand feuds among humans on the pretext of their religious beliefs and upbringings. A pilgrimage is a place where we confront ourselves, and try to put all our worries and concerns in front of our Almighty.
I wonder about the mayhem-like circumstances while we praise our religion and at the same time criticize others.
It’s concerning how we tend to elevate our religion while denigrating the beliefs of others. This attitude only breeds intolerance and division, hindering our ability to live in a peaceful and harmonious world.
I don’t believe in mixing politics with our religious habits and beliefs.
It is crucial to keep politics and religion separate. We cannot let politicians manipulate our religious beliefs for their gain. When a politician tries to win your vote by appealing to your intrinsic beliefs, beware. They may not have your best interests in mind and may not be suitable for building a harmonious society. Let’s ensure we elect leaders based on their policies and actions, not religious beliefs. Our theological beliefs are too personal to make it a tool for political gains.
A mini guide for the pilgrims.
Yatra slips are issued in government certified center in Katra, and pilgrims have to wear that as their identity card through out the trip.
There are different ways to reach Mata Vaishno Devi Temple via Katra. You can even go by Helicopter from Katra to Sanjichhat, from Sanjichhat, the distance to Bhawan is a mere 2.5 km.
The distance from Ardhkuwari to Bhavan is around 6.5 km, and if you skip to Ardhkuwari, it is around 5.5 km.
From Ardhkuwari, the route is slightly easier. More important is that ponies are not allowed beyond Ardhkuwari.
The government has arranged an alternative battery car service for the pilgrims, though this facility has to be booked online before the journey.
There are booking windows for the pilgrims who go by ponies or palanquins. There are small carts with men for the kids. Ferry charges are fixed, however, men with ponies hover around pilgrims to ferry them to Ardhkuwari.
From Banganga to up to three km, one can find several shops, juice corners, eateries, message centers, and photo studios.
There are government food joints along the way, so with so many affordable options, pilgrims don’t need to carry their food except baby foods if they have babies with them.
At Ardhkuwari, pilgrims would have a longer-than-expected queue to visit the Ardhkuwari temple ( We went there only to be told to wait for 24 hours for our turn, so we skipped Ardhkuwari visit ).
The journey from Banganga to Bhawan on foot is challenging yet enjoyable, with pilgrims creating a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere.
A spiritual journey is about calmness, kindness, camaraderie, serenity, and an earthy soulful touch of humanity.
If you find it difficult to walk to Bhawan, book a palanquin or pony at the government booking joint as the men with ponies will ask for a hefty amount for the ferry. Those opting for ponies have to alight at Ardhkuwari, from there they have to go by Battery cars. Battery cars are booked 24 hours before the trip.
N.B. – You have to buy a new sim card in Katra as the sim cards of the rest of India don’t work once the train crosses Pathankot. For a group having at least two SIM cards with hotspots connected to others’ cell phones is advisable.
Also, a power bank is required to keep your cellphones alive, as there are lack of charging points.
At Banganga, you can buy a red stole, a specially made red cloth, and Goddess’s silver-mix accessories to be offered in the temple. Don’t buy any eatable offerings in Banganga, as that are available in the Bhawan at affordable and reasonable prices and remember, every devotee gets a special pouch offering with a special Vaishno Mata coin after visiting the shrine.
And don’t forget to ask for the red stole from the priest.
After visiting the Vaishno Mata shrine, the mere sight of the Mother Goddess makes the pilgrims relieved and contented, as if the Goddess has lifted a burden from their minds.
Visiting the Bhairo Baba temple is also necessary after visiting the main shrine. You can either go there by walking or by ropeway. The ropeway can be booked online before the trip or one can book there also.
Our journey-
After visiting Mata Vaishno Devi temple, we visited the nearby Shiv temple. After that, we halted for a tea session. It was 3.30 am and we were more fresh than freshly baked bread.
But our feet weren’t going with the vibes, so we decided to rest, as the timing of the ropeway to Bhairo Baba Temple is after 7 am.
We indeed slept on the floor of the space beside the locker room, and to our surprise, it was not that hard to sleep.
After visiting the Bhairo Baba temple, we didn’t expect a harder return journey, but it was way harder for our spiritually-soaked minds. It was as if we were returning to play the remaining role of life given to us by the Almighty.
We returned with a sense of purpose, meaning, and direction for ourselves, for humanity, and for all the unpredictable aspects of life.
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Conclusion-
Trust me, taking time to nurture your spiritual side and discover the multitude of benefits it can bring is not a waste of money and time, it helps us rejuvenate ourselves in a go.