Katra during morning time

Katra, also known as Katra Vaishno Devi, is a small town near Reasi Town that is hearted in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. 42 kilometers (26 miles) from Jammu and Kashmir, this place is located in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi is located. Having an elevation of 875 meters on average (2,474 feet), Katra can be found at 32.98°N 74.95°E. The village is bisected by the Banganga River. Possible oil reserves in that area have also been speculated.

Katra serves as a starting point for visiting Vaishno Devi. Katra, despite being an underrated place, has a thriving tourism industry with a wide range of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, and fast-food joints to suit all budgets. Some registered trusts provide free housing for the poor in the form of “Sarais.” A lot has changed in Katra over the years, but the main thing that never changes and always remains as a center of every tourist attraction remains the “bazaar” (market) for purchasing souvenirs, dry fruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, and so on. Before beginning the trek to Vaishno Devi, pilgrims must register at Katra. The benefit of the registration is that by registering pilgrims receive accident insurance up to 100,000 INR while on the 14-kilometer trek.

Top 5 places that you need to visit if you are in Katra

Vaishno Devi Temple

Now c’mon, what did you expect? Of course, this place had to be mentioned at the top of our compilation. The Vaishno Devi temple is the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of Katra. The temple is located in the mountains of Trikuta. The shrine contains a cave where Mata manifested herself in three rock forms known as Pindies. Located 1 km from the bus stop is the Darshani Darwaza, is the yatra's entry gate. You can reach this place by trekking 13 km uphill from Katra. For the elderly and infirm, horse and palanquin services are available.

Baba Dhansar's natural beauty

Baba Dhansar is another one of the must-visit holy places in Katra. Located less than 13 kilometers away from Katra, there are plenty of awesome homestays and guest houses in this place. It requires climbing stairs, around 100 of them. Apart from the beautiful temple that is hearted here which is dedicated to Lord Shiva with an interesting legend associated with it, what attracts tourists to this place are a series of marvelous waterfalls and lush greenery all around.

Top 5 things to do in Katra

So you finally made up your mind and now you’re in Katra but you are feeling indecisive on what is the first thing that you should do at this place? Well, we are here for a reason. We have compiled several fun things that you can do in this beautiful place.

Trek at night

Many adventurers choose to start their trekking expedition at night to reach Vaishno Devi Temple. You may be perplexed in the beginning, but don't worry. Several tourists are choosing to do the aforementioned. The primary reason for the night-trekking concept is that many tourists who are not religiously inclined enjoy trekking to Vaishno Devi temple for the breathtaking views, but at night, the entire Katra town sparkles like stars in the sky. And you definitely can't miss the chance to click pictures here; it's breathtaking. Tourists also enjoy delectable home-cooked meals at the stops.

A picnic at Jhajjar Kotli

Well-known among Katra residents, Jhajjar Kotli’s beauty will astound you once you arrive. This picnic spot is located along NH 1A and is 15 kilometers from Katra. Located on the bank of the Jhajjar River, not only is this place’s views breathtaking, but you will be surprised to learn how a place of such beauty can remain hidden from the rest of India. If you want to spend some quality time with your loved ones, bring a blanket and your food. Many people swim in the creek, and if you intend to do so, you should be prepared. If you want to run away from the chaos of your life, you will never regret visiting this place