Katra

A small town located in foothills of Trikuta Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir, Katra is a popular pilgrimage for millions of Hindus. The town is in the vicinity of Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, situated in the Trikuta Mountains. Every year pilgrims undertake a challenging 13.5 km long trek to reach the shrine. This speaks volumes about their devotion towards the Goddess. They believe that the Goddess will fulfill their wishes and consider the temple as one of the holiest of the Shakti Peethas (holy places representing cosmic energy).Though Vaishno Devi is the main attraction of the town, there are numerous places to explore. Bhairon Temple is an important pilgrimage site, and the temple has interesting legends related to it. Another auspicious temple is the Adhkunwari, 6 km from Katra. The cave is very narrow and can only accommodate one person at a time. Katra also has numerous places for sightseeing which provide picturesque views, such as Himkoti, Banganga, Baba Dhansar and many more. All of these are great places to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature.