A small town located in foothills of Trikuta Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir, Katra is a popular pilgrimage for millions of Hindus. The town is in the vicinity of Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, situated in the Trikuta Mountains. Every year pilgrims undertake a challenging 13.5 km long trek to reach the shrine. This speaks volumes about their devotion towards the Goddess. They believe that the Goddess will fulfill their wishes and consider the temple as one of the holiest of the Shakti Peethas (holy places representing cosmic energy). Though Vaishno Devi is the main attraction of the town, there are numerous places to explore. Bhairon Temple is an important pilgrimage site, and the temple has interesting legends related to it. Another auspicious temple is the Adhkunwari, 6 km from Katra. The cave is very narrow and can only accommodate one person at a time. Katra also has numerous places for sightseeing which provide picturesque views, such as Himkoti, Banganga, Baba Dhansar and many more. All of these are great places to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Best Time to Visit Katra
Though Katra experiences sub-tropical climate throughout the year, March to November is the best time to visit the town. The summers are generally warm, and the temperature may reach the 40 °C mark. However, if you are planning to visit Vaishno Devi Temple, then do carry a pair of woolen clothes as the temperatures can reach as low as 5 °C near the shrine. Another advantage of visiting Katra during this time is that rainfall is quite rare.
Weather Of Katra
The climate of Katra is sub-tropical. Summers (March to July) are hot and humid, with temperature often reaching around 40 °C. The monsoon season starts in July and lasts till September. Rainfall is rare in this season and usually occurs in the month of August, leading to an increase in the humidity levels. Winter arrives in October and lasts till February. The weather is quite cold and the temperature reaches below 0 °C.
How to Reach Katra?
By Air : Jammu Airport is located at a distance of 50 km from Vaishno Devi.
By Rail : Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station and Jammu Tawi Railway Station are the nearest railway stations to Katra. Jammu Tawi Railway Station is well-linked to the major cities in India, such as Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Chennai, Pune and many more.
By Road : Katra is well-connected to other towns and cities in India through a good network of national highways and state highways. National Highway 1A connects Jammu to Srinagar. Several major North Indian cities, such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Shimla, etc.