This September, me & My 2 friends Tarun and Nishant, planned to visit Vaishno Devi. The schedule was decided as Departure from Delhi to Jammu, by train on Friday Evening. Saturday was kept for the holy journey and return was scheduled on Sunday Evening by Train.
Nishant and myself reached station to board Jammu Mail, but unfortunately Tarun missed the Train. The start was a bit disturbed. But Tarun was determined for this visit. He catched another train and surprisingly, reached Katra before us.
We reached Jammu next morning and hired a CAB from station itself. This was an old Ambassador Car but was running very well. In next 90 minutes, we reached Katra and met Tarun.
We checked In at Hotel Neelkanth (Rs. 1100 for triple occupancy room). We had rest for some time and then started our journey at 4 pm. After taking Yatra Slip, we reached Banganga. River was flowing full of water (Thanks to good monsoon). We could not resist us to sit on the bank of river with our foot in cold water. This was very refreshing.
We had our lunch at banganga and started climbing. With many haults in between, we reached AdhKuwari by 7.30 pm. We visited holy cave and offered our prayers. It was just Evening Aarti time, so much rush was not there.
Then we had coffee at CCD and moved further. We were suggested to go via HimKoti and definitely route was much better. No pony walas were there.
We reached Bhawan by 10pm. We took bath and purchased Prasadam. Then, we have to keep our luggage in clock room. But every clock room was full and a long queue was there at every window. We waited for approx 1 hour for our turn to keep our luggage in clockroom.
Then we went inside the temple. This was a divine experience. As there was not much rush, so we were able to have darshan for quite some time. They told that now another entry is created for holy cave, so each devotee gets sufficient time for Darshan.
After Darshan, we also went to Shiv Gufa.
Then we collected back our luggage and had our Dinner (Yes, Rajmah Chawal only).
We started our return journey around 1 am. and with another hault at CCD at AdhKuwari, we reached back to our hotel at 5 am.
Yes, we were tired but were very happy to have this experience.
In next afternoon, around 2pm, we started back to Jammu and onwards to Delhi
Interesting report. Did you walk from 1am to 5am on the return trip? It must have been pitch dark and quite challenging in that terrain.
Yes GAM,
Indeed we travelled back from 1 am to 5pm, but it was not dark. Shrine board has made excellent arrangements of Lighting on full path and with lot of people travelling, it was not at all challenging.
And yes, a hot coffee at Adhkwari and nice Himani Fast Relief on our legs, helped us to complete the journey.
Regards,
Pravesh
pl.tell.march2011 weather ok
09/01/11 ravi