Accommodation
For the convenience of the pilgrims, the Shrine Board offers Free
as well as Rented Accommodation at Jammu, Katra and also along the
Holy Track. At Jammu, accommodation is available at Vaishnavi Dham
and Saraswati Dham complexes located right next to Jammu Tawi
Railway Station. At Katra, accommodation is available in the
Niharika complex, situated next to the main Bus Stand.
Accommodation is also available at Adhkuwari, Sanjhichat and
Bhawan..
Katra townis located at an altitude of nearly 2500 ft above sea level
while the sanctum sanctorum is located at nearly 5200 ft. above
sea level. There is obviously a significant temperature difference
between the two locations. A reference to the temperature of Katra
town alone may thus be misleading, for, even at the height of
summer, the Bhawan area may be considerably cool. For this
purpose, a chart outlining the broad range of summer/winter
temperatures at both Katra and Bhawan is outlined below. The
temperature figures are merely indicative and actual values may
vary from year to year. Nevertheless, these values are meant to
give the pilgrims a fair idea of the temperature range and to plan
their yatra and clothing requirements accordingly.
Distances from
Katra, Altitude w.r.t. Mean Sea Level & Average Temperature
To help the yatries and offer assistance during the pilgrimage,
the Shrine Board has operationalized information booths at various
locations. These are 24-hour information cum enquiry counters.
Yatries can use them to obtain important information about various
aspects of the Yatra. These counters also serve as announcement
booths and pilgrims can approach these booths to get announcements
made regarding missing children or group members. These booths are
connected with other important locations through a wireless
network and thus an announcement made at one location can be
passed on to all other important locations also. These booths are
also used to relay pre-recorded Bhajans and important Yatra
related messages for the benefit of the yatries. Besides, do’s and
don’ts and other useful tips are also relayed through these
booths.
These inquiry, assistance and announcement booths are located at
prominent locations at Katra, Adkuwari, Himkoti, Sanjichhat and
Bhawan. The counter at Katra is located near the main Bus Stand.
The one at Bhawan is located near the gate no. 1. Other booths too
are prominently located. Information Counters are also operational
at General Bus Stand, Jammu and Jammu Tawi Railway Station. An
Information Counter is also proposed to be set up at the Jammu
Airport.
The Shrine Board has constructed Shelter sheds at various places
along the track. At certain stretches on the alternate track and
on the old track from Sanjhichhat to Bhawan, these shelter sheds
cover almost the entire track. However, in other portions of the
track, the sheds have been provided at a distance of about 500
meters from one another.These shelter sheds are instrumental in
saving the visiting devotees from Shooting stones, rain, sun, snow
and adverse weather conditions. The decent seating facilities
provided underneath the sheds, prompt the devotees to have a
little rest. Hence they are also called Vishram Sthals.
Toilet blocks and refreshment units have been provided adjacent to
most of the shelter sheds, for the facility of the pilgrims.
Refreshments like biscuits, cold-drinks tea, coffee, milk, mineral
water, etc. are available along the way at refreshment Units of
the Shrine Board. Nearly all of these units are located at
carefully selected locations from where one can have a panoramic
view of the valley. Therefore, they are also known as View
Points. There are a total of 12 such view points. 9 of
these refreshment units (or view points) are located on the old
track while 3 are located on the alternate track to Bhawan. All
the items offered at these view points are on a no-profit basis
thus ensuring proper quality and value for the money paid by the
pilgrims.
While no specific medical certificate is needed to undertake the
Yatra, those suffering from heart, breathing or similar ailments
are advised to proceed with the Yatra only after due medical
checkup and advice. Cardiac, asthmatic and orthopedic problems are
known to get aggravated due to the strenuous climb. In any
case, these patients are strongly advised against using the
stairs. To cater to the medical needs of the yatries
there is a block hospital at Katra as well as a 24 hours
charitable dispensary run under the aegis of the Shrine Board.
Emergency needs can be taken care of by basic medical facilities
at Banganga, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat and Bhawan. Oxygen cylinders and
emergency drugs are also available. A dispensary and 24-hr ICU is
also available at Bhawan. Specialized and advanced medical
treatment is however available only at Jammu.
The Holy cave is situated at a height of 5200 ft above sea level.
Even during summers, the nights are cool and Yatries would
normally require the use of blankets at night. The Shrine Board
has arranged for free blanket stores at various locations. For a
nominal and refundable security deposit, yatries are issued
blankets for the night. Blanket stores are located at various
convenient locations and as already mentioned, the service is
entirely free of charge. The security obtained from the yatri is
refunded, once the blanket is returned. Pilgrims are advised to
obtain a proper receipt for each and every financial transaction.
Free cloak room facilities are available at the
main Bhawan complex also. There are at least two cloak rooms which
are functional round the clock. There is a cloak room located just
opposite to the main queue complex (gate No.1). This cloak room
can be used for depositing shoes, belts, combs and all other items
that are not allowed in the Holy cave. In addition, another cloak
room is functional in Sridhar Bhawan. Yatries can deposit their
entire luggage here before proceeding for Darshans. However,
yatries are advised not to keep their cash, jewellry, valuables or
electronic items amongst the deposited luggage. All cloak room facilities are
absolutely free of cost.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has its own no profit no loss
shops at Bhawan known as Bhaint Shop
where Prashad/Bhaints offerings are available at a fair price.
Hence the pilgrims are not required to buy offerings at Katra and
carry them all the way to Bhawan. Beautifully packed Bhaints in
eco-friendly jute bags are available in the Bhaint shop at Bhawan
at reasonable rates. The Bhaints are available in the
denominations of Rs. 11, Rs. 21 and Rs. 31. Bhaints of higher
denominations are also likely to be introduced shortly. Pilgrims
can also buy a water bottle from the Bhaint shop to fill the Holy
water that gushes out of the Holy Cave after having Darshans.
The Shrine Board has got prepared gold and silver coins of
guaranteed purity. These coins bear the image of the Holy Pindies
on one side and that of Goddess Durga on the other. These coins
are available at the Prashad counter just outside the Holy Cave
and at all the banks at Bhawan.
For yatries who wish to carry with them mementos of the great
pilgrimage, the Shrine Board operates Souvenir Shops at Bhawan,
Sanjichhat, Adkuwari, Katra bus stand and at Vaishnavi Dham
(Jammu). Chunris, Cholas, Saris, shawls which have been offered to
the Holy Goddess are available at these Souvenir Shops at nominal
prices. Pilgrims can obtain them and preserve them as souvenirs or
can place them at the place of worship inside their houses.
Besides, other exclusive items available at the Souvenir Shops
include, audio cassettes, CDs, various publications of Shrine
Board, laminated photos of the Holy Pindies, Jute Bags, Bangle
Chura etc. Yatries may take notice that all these items are
exclusively available at the Souvenir Shops of Shrine Board and
are not available at any of the private shops.
Since its inception, it has been the constant endeavour of the
Board to provide adequate, neat & clean resting places to the
devotees visiting the holy cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Ji. Towards these objectives, many decent resting places such as
Saraswati Bhawan, Waiting Hall near Manokamana Bhawan, etc. have
been created at Bhawan Complex. These are meant to be used by the
devotees waiting for their turn for Darshans of the Holy Goddess.
These resting places are in the shape of large halls which are
available for the yatries. This accommodation is free of cost and
is made available on a first-come-first-served basis. No booking
or permission is required for using these premises since they are
kept open round the clock and yatries can just go and occupy them
subject to availability.
As a part of
its constant endeavour to facilitate the smooth pilgrimage to the
Holy Cave, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has facilitated
the setting up of a computerised Railway Reservation Counter at
Katra. The Shrine Board has provided the required infrastructure
to the Railway authorities for housing the Railway Reservation
Counter.
Ideally located in the Niharika Complex near the main Bus Stand at
Katra this computerized Railway Reservation Counter will certainly
go a long way in meeting the long felt need of the devotees
visiting the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji from various
parts of the country.
Prior to the establishment of this counter, Railway Reservations
were got madethrough authorized agents to whom a fixed quota was
allotted. Pilgrims could get their tickets booked with in the
quota range only but no facility for cancellation of reservation
was available.
With the commissioning of the new Railway Reservation Counter, the
pilgrims can make or cancel reservation to/from any part of the
country instantly.
In order to
regulate the yatra and strengthen security in the area, the State
administration has made elaborate arrangements including
deployment of sufficient troops of the local police as well as the
paramilitary forces. Regular patrolling of the track, monitoring,
vigilance and necessary action with regard to suspicious elements
are part of the security drill. The security staff of SMVDSB
(Shrine Board) is utilized for regulation of Yatra and adds to
general area vigilance. In addition, X-Ray Baggage Inspection
Systems and Door Frame Metal Detectors have been provided to
ensure foolproof security of the pilgrims and the Shrine. Close
Circuit TVs are installed at all vital locations.
The services of the local police can be availed of through Police
Stations/Police Posts at Katra, Banganga, Adkuwari, Sanjichatt and
and at Bhawan. There are senior officers of the rank of
Superintendent of Police (SP) who are available at Katra and
Bhawan. In addition, officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent
of Police (Dy SP) or above of the paramilitary forces at also
available at both Katra and Bhawan.
For the
benefit of the yatris visiting the holy Shrine of Vaishno Devi,
the following post offices offer their standard services to the
devotees. Devotees can send telegrams, post letters, send money
orders, or avail of any other standard facility being offered by
the Department of Posts & Telegraphs, Government of India.
STD/ISD/PCO booths function all over
Katra, along the track and right up till Bhawan. A few of them are
open for all 24 hours. The STD code for Katra is 01991. A few
cyber cafes are also functional.
Mobile phone services have only
recently been started and the only operators at present is BSNL &
Airtel. While post paid Cell One and MTNL
Dolphin connections & Airtel are functional in Katra also, pre paid
connections or Cell connections of other operators (Hutch, Idea etc.) are currently not
functional. Pre paid cards are
currently not available.
It may also
be noted that palanquins (palkies), porters or ponies are far
easier to hire at the beginning of the journey than in the middle.
Palanquins can be hired from the Shrine Board assistance counter
located at the Main bus stand, Katra and ponies can be hired from
Chetak Bhawan located just near the Darshani Darwaza.
Many
nationalized and private banks have their branches at Katra. The
State Bank of India, Bank of Punjab and J&K Bank also provide ATM
facilities at Katra. Many more banks including ICICI Bank, UTI
Bank are in the process of installing their ATMs here. Many
private sector banks which do not have an office at Katra, do have
offices at Jammu. These include UTI Bank, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank
(being opened shortly).
The J&K Bank and
the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) have their branches in the
Bhawan complex also.
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