Maa Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple, one of the ancient and spiritual pilgrimages, and one of the Best Tourist Spots of India, is located in the Katra town of Jammu and Kashmir. Maa Vaishno Devi Temple is well-known all over the nation for its enlightenment, loveliness, and glory.

Vaishno Devi Mandir is located in the temple town Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta hills. It is at a distance of 13 km from Katra, the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Millions of devotees across different countries in the world visit this Ancient Maa Vaishno Devi Temple for their spiritual enlightenment. 

Vaishno Devi is an embodiment of one of the supreme Hindu divinities Goddess Durga, popularly known as Mata Rani, Vaishnavi, and Trikuta. It is believed that during the pooja and aarti, the Goddesses arrive at the Holy cave of Maa Vaishno Devi to pay their respect and devotion to Mata Rani. 

You might also have acknowledged and heard from numerous devotees that Mata Rani herself calls them to visit this holy place. Here, the devotees seek blessing from Mata Rani and ask for their wishes with their good intentions. 

In the holy caves of the temple, you will partake the darshan of Maa Vaishno Devi in the form of three naturally formed rocks, known as pinidies. These three naturally assembled rocks i.e. Pindies, embody the three forms of goddesses as Maha Kali, Maha Saraswati, and Maha Lakshmi.

You may believe the fact that over one crore devotees visit this holy Maa Vaishno Devi Temple every year. 

Best Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple

In order to ease your job of surfing the internet in pursuit of the best destinations in Katra, we are here with an inventory of some Magnificent Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple, which will let you know about some of the must-visit tourist attractions in Katra you should have a visit. 

The Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple consists of both adventurous and devotional places, that will assist you to witness the glamour of nature along with awakening yourself spiritually. Thus, you will enjoy all those Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra. 

Without letting a second go, let us begin the list of some Magnificent Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple. 

1) ARDHKUWARI

Mata Vaishnodevi had meditated in the ArdhKuwari Gufa for nine months. She had meditated there before making the Vaishno Devi Bhawan her adobe. After spending nine months here at ArdhKuwari doing meditation, Mata Vaishnodevi beheaded the devil Bhairavnath. 

This place from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple is situated halfway to the Vaishno Devi Temple. Thus, you don’t have to change your route in order to visit this tourist attraction.

In the ArdhKuwari cave, you have to crawl on your knees in order to reach the other side. On the other side of the cave, you will catch a huge shrine dedicated to the divinities – Maha Kali, Maha Laxmi, and Maha Saraswati. 

2) BHAIRAVNATH TEMPLE 

The history behind the Bhairavnath Temple is linked with the ArdhKuwari cave. As per the legends, Maa Vaishnodevi killed Kaal Bhairav (Baba Bhairavnath). During his last breath, Baba Bhairavnath repented for his evils. Thus, Maa Vaishnodevi pardoned him for his sins and made a statement that none of the pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi will be completed without going through Bhairav Temple. 

Due to this historical reason, this cave temple of Baba Bhairavnath is considered one of the must-visit Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishnodevi Temple. This cave temple is just at a stretch of 3 km from Bhawan. 

Here, you will be filled with immense joy after glancing at the beauty of the picturesque vistas of the forest-fed mountains. You can also enjoy the ropeway from Vaishno Devi Temple to Bhairavnath Temple. This ropeway will cost you INR 100 only for the trip.

3) KATRA

Katra is a small town attending the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains and is well-understood as the base camp in order to visit the shrine of Vaishno Devi. Since Maa Vaishno Devi Temple is the prime destination of the Katra, hence, Katra is well known as Katra Vaishno Devi. 

Katra is one of the aborning tourist attractions, where you can get access to helicopters and other eco-friendly vehicles. At this place, you will surely be going to enjoy the magnificence of the attractions like the Chenab river, the Banganga, and innumerable peaks around, offering great spots for mountain climbs and family treks. 

4) DERA BABA BANDA

Dera Baba Banda is one of the major pilgrimages from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple. It is a 300-year old Gurudwara. If we talk about the architecture of this Gurudwara, you will get stunned by the interior walls glinting in the textures of golden shade. 

Here you will get a glance at Baba Banda Bahadur, who was the commanding warrior in the army of Guru Gobind Singh. Dera Baba Banda is well-known for his ashes as well. In addition, you will also get exposure to his arrow and mighty sword he used during the wars to defeat the rival. 

At Katra, the best time to visit Dera Baba Banda is the span of the 3-day Vaisakhi mela that attracts a huge number of pilgrims. 

5) JAMMU

If we talk about the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu is the destination you should not miss out there. Jammu is the southernmost region and winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir. This attraction from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple is known for its majestic temples, cultural heritage, religious shrines, and glittering ‘shikars’. 

This spot is the point of commencement of the hugely prevalent Vaishno Devi Temple and Amarnath Yatra, which gives you an intense reason to visit this place. 

Being the city of temples, Jammu is most popularly known for the Maha Kali Temple, which is considered second only to the Vaishno Devi Temple. This temple was originally found in the 14th Century BC when there was the rule of the Dogra dynasty in the pre-independence era. 

6) PATNITOP

If you are a lover of endless meadows and panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks, then this is the right place for you. Patnitop is a popular hill station in the Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir. 

It is a great attraction for you if you are an adventurous lover and wish to explore adventurous activities like skiing, trekking, and paragliding. In order to uplift your journey with the drills of adventure, you must visit this attraction from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple. 

7) SANASAR

This place from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple will fill you with great joy and happiness through various activities like rock climbing, abseiling and trekking, paragliding, etc. 

The whole area is designed in a cup-shaped meadow surrounded by gigantic conifers and is named after two local lakes. This place will offer you calm surroundings, which are nowadays very strange in tourist attractions. This site is often regarded as ‘A quieter, lesser-known adventure’ for its serene and calm ecosystem.

8) SHIVKHORI

It is one of the best Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple in order to seek devotion from the God of gods, Lord Shiva. Shivkhori is a divine shrine of an incarnation of Lord Shiva. This tourist attraction is situated in the lap of nature in the form of a cave on a hill rock in the Udhampur district. 

As per the beliefs of the knowledgeable legends, this attraction is devoted to one of the unborn and invisible forms of Lord Shiva. When you explore this cave, you will undergo the divine aura of Lord Shiva’s form. 

You may feel some hardship while going through the Shivkhori cave because of its challenging route, but you will surely experience the thrill and blessing at the sight of the idol. 

Along with Lord Shiva, you will also find the naturally formed shapes or impressions of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya, Nandi, and Sheshnag. Here, you will get the magical vibes with the grace of Lord Shiva, that will surely mesmerize you and your journey. 

9) BABA DHANSAR

Baba Dhansar is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is situated roughly 15 km from Katra. It is also one of the most widespread attractions to visit near Vaishno Devi, which resides on the way to Salal Dham. 

In this temple devoted to Lord Shiva, you will glimpse a self-manifested Shiva Linga that consists of natural drops of water falling over it. In addition, you will also partake a spring flowing from the nearby rocks, forming a magnificent waterfall merging with the Chenab river. 

10) BHADERWAH

This destination from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple is also recognized as Mini Kashmir or Nagaon ki Bhoomi. It is located in the Doda district in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in the foothills of the Himalayas. 

In this spot, you can get amazing vulnerability to a thrilling horse ride around the valleys which will furnish you with the incredibly beautiful landscape. 

At an elevation of 1613 m, this town is well-known for the variety of snakes found. Due to this reason only, it is famous as the Land of Snakes or Nagaon ki Bhoomi. Bhaderwah is one of the best places to take the joy of trekking as it lies in the foothills of the mountain range. 

In addition, it is a well-known city of Mela Pat, a popular 600-year-old carnival. If you visit this city from the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple, then you should also catch up with Jai Valley, Chinta Valley, Seoj Meadow, and Bhaderwah Fort there. 

Shopping in Vaishno Devi

Irrespective of the tourist places people visit, shopping is one of the prime rituals that everyone does in remembrance of the recollections of the journey and that place. The same applies to the Vaishno Devi Temple and the Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple. 

In Vaishno Devi and its nearby places, most shopping is done by the pilgrims including Prasad, saris, and shawls in order to offer all these to the Mata Rani. in the markets of Vaishno Devi, you will find the coins of gold and silver with the images of Maa Vaishno Devi here. 

Along with all these devotional items, you will also find varieties of bangles, embroidered fabrics, saris, and suits which are quite popular here among women of all ages. 

In Katra, the Katra Main Bazaar is the premium shopping area for visitors and devotees visiting Vaishno Devi. In the Katra Main Bazaar, you will get exposure to everything native to Jammu. If we talk about the food items, you will find some delicious and healthy dry fruits that include walnuts, berries, almonds, and dried apples. 

In Katra, in the Bhawan Market, you will get the conventional goods offered to Maa Vaishno Devi in the holy temple. In Vaishno, there is a Sanjhi Chhat market that will furnish you with a vast variety of traditional fabrics, shawls, and Kashmiri motifs. 

Conclusion

That’s all about the list of some of the Best Tourist Spots Nearby Vaishno Devi Temple you must visit if you are going to Vaishno Devi or planning to visit there in the future. 

If you find this blog and the piece of knowledge in this blog to be informative, then kindly like and comment on your views regarding this magnificent destination. Also, do mention the favorite tourist attraction nearby Vaishno Devi you are excited to visit the most.