The document describes the narrator's holy trip to the Mata Vaishno Devi Cave shrine in Jammu, India with their brother and sister-in-law. It details their train journey from Delhi, arrival in Katra, the pilgrimage journey on foot to the holy cave which takes several hours, darshan or sight of the goddess, and spending the night at the Bhawan before returning the next day. It highlights the natural beauty, facilities for pilgrims, and the spiritual experience and energy felt from darshan of the goddess.

1. A holy trip to Mata Vaisno Devi Cave
Well i always use to deny when someone offers me for any tour. It’s my habit since I was in college. I
had my graduation in Dehradun and still I never explored most of the popular destinations near from
Dehradun like Haridwar,Mussoorie,Rishikesh etc. But when my elder brother and sister-in-law were
planning to mata visit Vaishno Devi cave in Jammu (India) then they asked me too for booking my ticket
then I was thinking whether I should join the tour with them or just drop their plan of accompanying
me too. But finally they insisted me to join tour with them and i decided to join them.
My sister-in-law and I was very much excited for the trip. I insisted my brother that I’ll go with you only
when you will give a day for fun and sightseeing in Jammu after having Mata Darshan. He agreed and
booked a luxury Hotel Asia in Katra through a website http://indianhoneymoonpackages.com/
because this site also arranged their honeymoon trip to Kerala fantastically.
From here our journey to Mata Vaishno Devi started. We departed from new Delhi railway station to
katra (Jammu)around 5:00 pm. It was a special newly operated train which run up to katra(The
Getaway to mata Vaishnu Devi Cave) . The train was neat and clean from inside and outside as it was
newly flag off for this holy place. It was the navratra time so there were huge crowd and rush. But
finally we get allocated our seats and get relaxed. Initially 4 or 5 hours of our journey we three were
discussing lots of things, doing fun and planning for the next day that when will we have visit to Mata
Temple.Then we had dinner and get back to our seats for sleeping. Next day around 6:00 am we
reached at Katra Railway station. The station was so neat and clean and well furnished. It was giving the
view of Airport and we had lots of photo shoots there. Then we get refreshed and took yatra tickets
from one of the Yatra slip counter situated at katra railway station for our journey. There was tight
security as they were scanning the face of every visitor,asking about their names and area of resident
and then issuing the yatra tickets. We carried our tickets and set out towards very spiritual trip.
When we reached at main station road there we stopped an auto and told him for dropping us at Ban
ganga, the place where the checking of your luggage starts and devotees can take bath. This is the place
where travelers across different cities,states comes and start their journey on foot. Some devotees use
horse riding or palki yatra. But we started our trip on foot. As we moved on we reached to ancient
Charan Paduka Temple.This is the temple where goddess stopped for a while just to look back whether
Bhairon Nath was still chasing her or not.We were overwhelmed and were looking ahead to know more
about goddess. Some devotees were coming back and some were going for mata darshan. But I could
see the same shine in the eyes of every yatri.Only one sound were echoing in the air “Jai Mata
Di”.Initially it was very tiring and I was thinking how soon I will reach at Bhawan. We had fast that day
so we were taking rest at many of the spots which are finely developed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Shrine Board. For more than an hour we were sitting in some places,eating fruits and finding ourselves
in heaven.T here is nothing better than this holy place.The weather were also favourable as we were
there in September. Shrine Board really made the things very easy for the travelers.Appreciable work
they are doing. Lots of facilities were there like shelter sheds,bhojanalya and refreshment units,medical
facility,bhaint shop,blanket stores etc. Slowly slowly our footsteps were reached to Adhkuwari . At this
place the Goddess is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva in a cave for 9 months and when Bhairon

2. Nath found her inside the cave She made an opening in the cave proceeded towards Bhawan.Now that
was the journey of 2 more hours. But still we took a long rest and captured lots of photographs. At 9 pm
we reached Bhawan and we all were amazed by the flower decoration at every single corner of goddess
temple(Bhawan). Then we took bath and bought bhaint for Mata and did goddess Darshan. There were
a long queue and we had our sight of goddess at 12:00 am.You will not get much time to stay and make
a wish in front of Mata because beside you there are lots of other people waiting for the same but still
that 10 to 15 seconds sight of goddess made me feel so energetic from inside and then we were served
sacrament (Prashad).After having it we had our dinner.After finishing our dinner we were thinking of
taking some rest in Bhawan only. Now we were feeling cold somewhere but we didn’t get any blanket
from store. But somehow we managed two blankets and slept for 1 to 2 hour. At 3:00 am we decided to
move to down after sight of Bhiron Nath. We had tea,samosa and start continuing towards our Hotel
Asia. Yea there is no doubt that our legs were paining but that pain was giving so rel ief. With smile in our
face we reached to hotel at 9:00 am and greeted very gently. They served tea as we reached there and
the room was fabulous with balcony giving a spectacular himalayan view. Then we get relaxed for 3 to 4
hour and ordered lunch. In evening we went to local market to purchase some gifts for family members.
The market was surrounded with cosmetics and other decorative materials. We bought some famous
things of Kashmir such as walnuts,almonds and various kind of sacrament. Then we had delicious dinner
and photography in and around market.We reached hotel at 11:00pm and enjoyed superb famous pista
shake with lots of gossips and then we get asleep. Next day woke up at 9:00am and had an amazing
sunshine view of Bhawan from our room terrace. Then we had brunch with lots of delicious varities. And
then finally we checked out and boarded in our train to Delhi. All in one I can say it was the most
memorable time and had a great freak out.
Do visit Shri Mata Vaisno Devi and feel the heaven in Earth itself.And many thanks to Team
www.Indianhoneymoonpackages.com for arranging such a wonderful tour.