Places to visit near Vaishno Devi

Do you seek for wonderful trip experiences to unwind from your hectic daily life? Plan a visit to Vaishno Devi after that. It is one of India’s most revered tourist locations. It allows you to temporarily put all of your concerns and difficulties aside and submerges you in the tranquillity of Mata Vaishno Devi’s sacred shrine. There are a wide variety of places to visit near Vaishno Devi.  In Jammu and Kashmir, this area is situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountain. Check out the places to visit near Vaishno Devi below if you decide to visit this location. You may plan your itinerary and have a fantastic trip based on that. 

You can reach Vaishno Devi:

By train: There are multiple ways you can reach Vaishno Devi. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station is Vaishno Devi’s main railway station, and serves Trichy and its surrounding areas. It is located 16.5 km from Vaishno Devi. 

By air: If you want to reach Vaishno Devi by air, you can fly to Jammu Airport. This airport is located 50 km from the city. 

By road: If you reside in Jammu and Kashmir, then you can reach Vaishno Devi either by car or public transport. 

 

Best places to visit near Vaishno Devi

Jammu

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Jammu, which serves as the starting point for flights to Vaishno Devi, is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, snow-capped mountains, an abundance of wildlife, gorgeous monuments, friendly locals, and regional handicrafts. The Vaishno Devi Temple is the most well-known place to visit near Vaishno Devi in Jammu, followed by the Maha Kali Temple.

Vaishno Devi Mandir

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The Vaishno Devi Mandir is a Hindu temple devoted to Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of Goddess Durga, and is situated in the Trikuta Hills, 13 kilometres from Katra. One of the holiest pilgrimages for Hindus is to this famous shrine. Goddesses are said to show up at the Holy Cave during pooja and aarti.

Timings: All day

 

Ardhkuwari

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One of the places to visit near Vaishno Devi is Ardhkuwari. This place is situated nearer to the city’s core. It is quite simple to get there and explore all year round because of its geographic significance. Additionally, it is regarded as the top historical location and is well-liked by tourists visiting Vaishno Devi Temple.

One of Jammu and Kashmir’s busiest and most well-known religious sites is located here. You may see the sizable shrine here that was constructed in honour of the three goddesses Maha Saraswati, Maha Kali, and Maha Laxmi. The ideal time to visit Vaishno Devi and explore the sacred cave is in the winter. It’s because the snowfall is so beautiful and makes for a wonderful journey.

Timings: All day

Distance: 6kms from Vaishno Devi

 

Katra

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One of the best tourist and religious places to visit near Vaishno Devi is Katra. It is also regarded as Vaishno Devi Shrine’s entrance. It is a tiny community nestled in the Trikuta Mountains’ foothills. It is well-known for serving as the starting point for Vaishno Devi’s shrine tours. Because of this, Katra is worthwhile travelling even if you are not a pilgrim. Also, there are a lot of places to visit in Katra.

Large mountain peaks for mountaineering, the Chenab River, and Banganga for family vacations are some of its main draws. Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the top attractions in Katra Vaishno Devi. As this area becomes a more well-known tourist destination, access to helicopters and even environmentally friendly cars has increased.

All types of budgets can be accommodated at the several hotels and eateries in this area. Because of the favourable weather, March through October are the best months to visit Katra. If you enjoy the snow, on the other hand, and don’t mind the cold, you’ll schedule your trip for March through October.

Timing to explore: Daytime 

Distance: 10kms from Vaishno Devi and 5km from the city centre

 

Bagh-e-Bahu

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If you don’t visit Bagh-E-Bahu, one of the attractions of Vaishno Devi, your journey won’t be complete. It is the area’s most visited historical location. It is also Jammu’s well-known and stunning garden.

This fort displays a captivating light and sound performance. Tourists and locals alike are welcome. Visitors adore exploring this fort, although it is not a religious location because of its splendour. The largest underground aquarium in India is also located there. It is one of the ideal places to visit near Vaishno Devi. 

With 24 aquarium caverns and 13 smaller caves, it is designed like a fish and is home to both freshwater and saltwater fish. Because it combines the elements of vegetation, soil, and water, the entire garden is a visual feast for your eyes from the designer.

Timings: 6 AM – 8 AM

Distance: 64 kms from Vaishno Devi. You can take a road trip from Vaishno Devi.

 

Vaishno Devi Yatra

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One of the most well-known pilgrimage routes in the world is the Vaishno Devi Yatra, which travels from Katra to the Vaishno Devi Mandir. The 13km yatra’s starting location is Banganga, which is about 2km from Katra’s major city. With Mata Vaishno Devi’s darshan, it concludes the Holy Cave.

From Katra, you can go in a palki, pithoo, pony, or even on foot to reach Vaishno Devi. If you want to spend money, you can take a regularly scheduled ropeway or a helicopter service. Plan your trip after checking the ropeway and helicopter departure times.

You don’t need to worry about anything because the ropeway tickets are readily available in Bhawan. Even though there is never a bad time to go to Vaishno Devi, it is best to go while there are celebrations. It enables you to receive the goddess Durga’s blessings and see the city from a different perspective.

You can reserve a spot on the Vaishno Devi yatra online because registration is required before participating in the yatra.

Timing to explore: All day 

Distance: 13km from Vaishno Devi 

 

Bhairavnath temple

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Another shrine close to the well-known Vaishno temple is the Bhairavnath temple. The saint’s cave temple is where it is located. The entire temple may be explored in around 4 hours. This is one of the Best Places to Visit in Vaishno Devi, therefore if you’re on a pilgrimage you must visit it.

From Bhawan, you must travel a steep 3 km to get to this temple. This temple provides scenic and exceptional views of the mountains fed by the forest, making it one of the most revered locations in Vaishno Devi. If you are unable to ascend the steep stairs, you can access ponies for an up-and-down excursion. You can even travel to this temple through a ropeway from Vaishno Devi Temple.

Timings: All the day 

 

Dera Baba Banda

Dera Baba Banda is one of the significant holy sites close to Vaishno Devi. It is the main Sikh pilgrimage site and a 300-year-old Gurudwara. It is well known for keeping the remains of Baba Banda Bahadur, the commander of the army of Guru Gobind Singh. It also keeps his enormous sword and arrow, which he utilises in battle.

Numerous pilgrims are drawn to this location, especially during the three-day Vaisakhi Mela. It stands out among the long list of well-known places to visit near Vaishno Devi because it enables visitors and pilgrims to receive the blessings of God and examine various items inside the museum.

Timings: 5 AM – 12 PM and 4 PM – 9 PM

Distance: 15 km from city center and can be reached by road.

 

City Center

You must visit City Center after visiting all the attractions in Vaishno Devi. Near Vaishno Devi, it serves as another important gathering spot. It is also quite well-liked by sporting goods stores. You can get some of the necessary products for your trip here for a fair price.

This location is suitable for eating delicious food and doing some casual shopping. The Katra bazaar is the must-see shopping destination and draws the most tourists.

Additionally, Vaishno Devi and the surrounding area provide a variety of sites. You need to do additional research and identify the best locations to investigate. Likewise, this place offers a wide variety of sports and adventure activities. Be prepared and have fun on your trip.

Timings: All the day 

 

Sanasar Lake

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The distance between Patnitop and Sanasar Lake is about 20 kilometres. Some visitors claim it to be one of the most stunning places they have ever been. Some people even say it resembles a tiny Switzerland! From Patnitop, you can either drive or take a taxi here. The Natha Top, which offers a breathtaking view, is where the path passes. Skiing and paragliding are perfect in this area because of how thickly snow-covered it is.

You’ll travel through some stunning natural surroundings along the way. Pine trees and lush, green landscapes with a lake in the centre are a given. Along with lunch by the lake as part of a family picnic, horseback riding is a favourite activity among guests.

Timings: Daytime

Distance: 20kms from Patnitop. You can easily reach Patnitop from Vaishno Devi by road via NH 44.

 

Ranbireshwar temple

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With 12 Shiv jyotirlinga, the Ranbireshwar temple in Jammu’s Shalimar road is one of the most well-known temples and a well-liked Vaishno Devi tourist destination. Maharaja Ranbir Singh invented it in 1884. The building is regarded as Northern India’s largest Shiva temple. A wide range of worshippers flock to the 19th-century temple throughout the year to offer their prayers and ask for Lord Shiva’s blessings.

The people of Jammu commemorate each of the main Hindu holidays in this temple. Devotees can visit the temple to celebrate the festivals of Makar Sankranti, Ram Navami, and Deepawali because the locals appreciate the festive atmosphere.

Timing to explore: Daytime 

A view of Botanical Garden in the background in the city of Srinagar, Kashmir.

 

Beautiful landscape of the natural Liddar or Lidder river stream from the Himalayas mountain passing Laripora village, Pahalgam, is a popular tourist destination in Kashmir.

 

Landscapes of Kashmir Valley.

 

Past Gadsar lake in Kashmir.

 

Beautiful view of Shikara boat ride on Dal Kake in Srinagar, Kashmir.

 

Mountain landscape of Sonamarg, Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Beautiful tulip flowers at Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar.

 

The breathtaking view of Krishansar lake in dry season, Kashmir.

FAQs

What would be the ideal itinerary for Vaishno Devi?

Day 1: If you get in Katra, preferably in the afternoon, rest up before going to the neighbourhood market that evening. There are countless options for goods and crafts here. You can get a room in one of the upscale guest houses nearby the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra train station or one of the hotels that are now in operation. Day 2: This is the day you should ideally begin your journey. Go to the Darshani Darwaza to start the long trek after receiving the Yatra slip from the regional office close to the Katra Bus Stand. Starting with Ban Ganga, you must then cross Charan Paduka before continuing. After that, you would pass through Adi/Ardh Kumari, which is where many travellers turn around. You will get to the Holy Bhawan by dusk. From here, you can either continue travelling or take the day off. Day 3: Today is the final day of your Darshan of the Holy Trinity. You should stop by Bhairon Nath Mandir, the location of the demon overlord's beheading, before descending to the base. According to the goddess Vaishnavi's blessing, pilgrims must stop by the Bhairon Mandir before leaving, or else their journey will be incomplete. After finishing, you have the option of returning to the base on foot or by helicopter from Sanjichhat.

How can one commute?

The most used form of transportation is the taxi. You have two options for travelling 13 kilometres from Katra to Bhawan. Palanquins, ponies, and helicopter flights are among other alternatives.