Katra, India: travel guide
Pilgrimage base town for the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
Top places to visit in Katra
Ardhkuwari Cave
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Holy mid-way cave on the yatra route where the Goddess is believed to have meditated.
Darshani Deori
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 0.3 h
The grand gateway in Katra town from which pilgrims first glimpse the Trikuta hills.
Vaishno Devi Bhawan
Temple · 4.8 rating · about 3 h
The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, one of India's most visited pilgrimages.
Bhairavnath Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Hilltop temple above the Bhawan, traditionally visited after the main darshan.
Banganga Temple
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h
Sacred stream-side shrine at the start of the Vaishno Devi trek.
Charan Paduka
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h
Viewpoint shrine on the trek where the Goddess's footprints are venerated.
Sanji Chhat
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h
High ridge en route to the Bhawan, also the helipad for shrine helicopters.
Himkoti
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h
Scenic landscaped halt on the new track with gardens and valley views.
Nau Devi Temple
Temple · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
Cave temple of nine goddesses on a hillside near Katra.
Aghar Jitto
Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h
Heritage shrine-and-tank complex commemorating the folk hero Baba Jitto.
Salal Dam
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 1 h
Large hydroelectric dam and reservoir on the Chenab near Reasi.
Dera Baba Banda
Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 1 h
Riverside Sikh shrine of Banda Singh Bahadur, set amid fields near Reasi.
Things to do
- Vaishno Devi Yatra Trek Cultural · 12 h
- Ardhkuwari Cave Darshan Cultural · 1.5 h
- Bhairavnath Temple Trek Adventure · 2 h
- Bhawan Ropeway Ride Sightseeing · 0.3 h · from INR 100 per person
- Helicopter to Sanjichhat Sightseeing · 0.3 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Pony & Palki Ride up the Track Adventure · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Shiv Khori Day Trip Cultural · 6 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Nau Devi & Aghar Jitto Tour Cultural · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
Where to stay in Katra
Hotels
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Katra 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- KC Residency Katra 4-star · INR 5,500 to INR 12,000 per night
- Ramada by Wyndham Katra 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Hotel Asia Vaishnodevi 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- The White Hotel Katra 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 10,000 per night
- Hotel Royal Sarovar Portico Katra 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 10,000 per night
Where to eat
- Shrine Board Bhojanalaya Indian, North Indian · about INR 150 per person
- Jewel's Restaurant Indian, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 450 per person
- Annpurna Restaurant Indian, North Indian · about INR 350 per person
- Hira Sweets & Restaurant Indian, Dessert · about INR 300 per person
- Krishna Dhaba Indian, North Indian · about INR 300 per person
- Madras Cafe Katra Indian, South Indian · about INR 300 per person
- Bikaner Sweets Indian, Dessert · about INR 250 per person
- Sagar Ratna Katra Indian, South Indian · about INR 400 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Shared Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.