‘Mata ka bulawa’ – the call of the goddess.
It is this clarion call that makes Vaishno Devi one of the holiest pilgrimages for Hindus. It is believed that unless one is ‘called’ by the Goddess, no one can visit this temple. And when you time comes to visit the shrine, you will surpass all obstacles. And yes, there are many obstacles on the way!
Vaishno Devi is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. above sea level. Located at the folds of the three-peaked mountain, Trikuta, the temple attracts millions of devotees each year. Also known as the Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata temple, to reach the holy shrine one must complete the trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp of Katra. The journey upwards is arduous, grilling and only for the strong-willed. Fortunately, things have become easier now with the opening of helicopter services from Katra to Vaishno Devi.
But before we know more about the helicopter services to the temple, let’s talk about some interesting things about this holy destination.
Why Visit the Temple?
It is believed that the goddess residing in the folds of the mountains grants the wishes of her true devotee. When you visit with full faith, you will not be disappointed.
Who Resides in the Folds of the Trikut Mountains?       Â
Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas of Devi Durga. It is believed that Vaishno Devi is bestowed with the powers of Vishnu. It is also believed that Devi Durga’s three manifestations – Mata Maha Kali, Mata Maha Saraswati and Mata Maha Lakshmi together form Vaishno Devi.
Interestingly, there is no idol or human figurine of the Devi in the temple. In the innermost sanctum of the cave, there lies a five and a half feet rock with three heads (Pindies) that is the pious shrine of the goddess.
Beliefs & Mythology    Â
It is difficult to ascertain the time since when Vaishno Devi came to be considered a holy shrine for pilgrimage. Geological studies show that the Holy Cave is nearly a million years old. Even in the religious texts of the Hindus, there is no explicit mention of the Shrine however there are references that can be variously interpreted.
In Vedic literature, there is no mention of any worship of a female deity primarily because of the fact that worshipping Shakti became popular only in the Puranic period. However, the mountain Trikuta is mentioned in Rig Veda (the oldest of the four Vedas).
There is some mention of the Mother Goddess in Mahabharata. In this epic, Arjun (the chief warrior of the Pandavas) meditated upon the Mother Goddess upon the advisement of Sri Krishna. He sought Her blessings. In the Mahabharata, Arjun addresses the goddess as, ‘Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye’, meaning ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jamboo’. Jamboo is probably a reference to present-day Jammu.
On the mountain overlooking the Trikuta Mountains are five stone structures believed to be the rock symbols of the Pandavas. It is also believed that the Pandavas built the temples at Bhawan (the present-day premises of the Vaishno Devi shrine) and Kol Kandoli for the Mother Goddess.
There is some reference that Guru Gobind Singh visited the shrine via Purnmandal.
As one of the Shakti Peethas, it is believed that the skull of Goddess Durga fell here. However, it is also believed her right arm fell here. Interestingly, there is a stone inside the shrine that resembles the human hand (also known as the Varad Hast – the hand that grants all blessings and boons).
Plan a Yatra      Â
The Vaishno Devi temple is open all around the year. You can plan a yatra at any time. However, considering the altitude here and the arduous journey, it is often advised to avoid the winter months. During the summer months of May to July, there is a heavy rush to the mountains. Other periods when devotees may have to wait 12-20 hours for darshan are during the Chaitra (spring) season and the Navratras (Autumn). It is believed that visiting the Vaishno Devi temple during the Navratri fulfils all your wishes. But, expect a heavy rush during these times. You can book the helicopter services to avoid the trek but that won’t give you much leeway in terms of the crowd inside the Bhawan.
If you want to avoid the rush, the winters and monsoons are a great time to visit the temple. But be careful of extreme weather conditions. If during the winters it is freezing cold, the monsoons make the route to the temple slippery and risky.
Visiting during the peak seasons means you do not need to carry extra warm clothing apart from your regular sweaters and jackets. But in the winters, do not forget to pack the extra warm clothes and for the monsoons, raincoats and boots are a must.
Ways to Reach the Temple
The age-old way to reach the temple is by trekking the 12 km from Katra. It is a long and steep climb from the base camp which lies at an altitude of 2,871 ft. Fortunately, the trek is smooth as the pathway has been made comfortable. There are resting areas, steep stairs (to shorten the climb) as well as food joints along the way. Trekking at nightfall is considered ideal not only because the climb becomes easier but also because you get to witness the rising sun from the mountain beds!
Alternatively, there are pony or doli rides for those who are not keen to walk but want to experience the climb.
Helicopter Services
Helicopter services from Katra to the helipad in Sanjhichatt have made life easier for devotees. You can easily avoid the tenuous 12-km trek by opting the helicopter services. From the Sanjhichatt helipad, the shrine is just 2.5 km, merely a 30-to-40-minute walk. From the helipad, you can choose to walk or hire a palki, porter or pony. The trip from Katra to the Sanjhichatt helipad takes about 8 minutes.
You can book the helicopter services offline in Katra. The booking process starts at 8:00 AM every morning. Expect a heavy rush as the queue starts lining up from 5:00 AM.
It is better to book online in advance. Online tickets are available 60 days in advance. The helicopter tickets called the ‘Yatra Parchi’ is available for one-way and two-way travel from Katra to Sanjhichatt. Every day, 150000 helicopter tickets are available to the Sanjhichatt helipad.
Though numerous travel portals claim to offer helicopter services to Vaishno Devi temple, every ticket has to be compulsorily booked from the official website of the temple trust – matavaishnodevi.org. No other travel agency is allowed to operate helicopter services independently.
Entry Slip to the Temple
Devotees must register themselves for the Yatra before they begin their pilgrimage. This is compulsory. With the Yatra Registration number, you will not be allowed to continue your pilgrimage. You can register on spot at Katra (at the Yatri Registration Counter near the Bus Stand) or book in advance online.
Dos and Don’ts of Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage
Considering the sanctity of the pilgrimage, the temple trust has issued many dos and don’ts for all devotees. Since millions of pilgrims visit the temple every year, these rules must be followed for smooth operations.
- Yatri registration is compulsory,
- Prior booking for helicopter services is also compulsory,
- It is advised that devotees travel light (those trekking the path),
- Non-vegetarian food is not allowed on the journey to the temple premises,
- Smoking, consuming alcohol and tobacco is prohibited in the area,
- Littering in the mountains is strictly prohibited. There are designated dustbins all around the trek,
- There are adequate lodging and food options in the Bhawan (main temple premises) for which devotees must book in advance,
- No photography and videography is allowed inside the temple premises. You must leave your cameras in Katra itself.
- There is no idol inside the cave. Do not expect anything such.
A visit to the Vaishno Devi temple is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your belief and the spectacular display of nature en route make it an ideal destination. If you get the ‘call’, go visit the goddess today!