Vaishno Devi, located in the Trikuta Mountains in Jammu, is one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage destinations in India. There are two ways to reach Vaishno Devi: hiking and ropeway. While hiking takes you about 3 hours, the Vaishno Devi Ropeway takes you to Bhairo Valley (where the temple is situated) within 5 minutes.
It is the easiest, time saving and most convenient way of reaching this holy destination. The ropeway also makes the temple accessible throughout the year, unlike before when it would be rendered inaccessible because of landslides and heavy snowfall. It is particularly beneficial for senior citizens and physically handicapped people, for whom hiking can present a lot of challenges and difficulties.
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Highlights of Vaishno Devi Ropeway
- The newly opened ropeway would reduce the time taken to reach Bhairo Valley from Vaishno Devi Bhawan to 5 minutes from 3 hours.
- The ropeway inaugurated by the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Satyapal Malik would cost devotees INR 100 per person.
- The project which was started in 2013, the ropeway would help old pilgrims reach the Bhairo Mandir without having to extensively trek.
- The picturesque aerial view of the Bhairo Valley is one of the major attractions on the Vaishno Devi ropeway.
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The Divinity of Vaishno Devi
Located in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, Vaishno Devi also knows as Mata Rani, Vaishnavi is a manifestation of the Hindu Goddess Mata Adi Shakti. Mata Adi Shakti is also known as Chandi or Durga.
Vaishno Devi temple is a cave temple nestled in the divine Himalayan mountains and the only access to the temple is through the mountains. From Katra to Vaishno Devi Bhawan, you can use any of these modes of transportation, ponies, trekking, electric vehicles, ropeway, and Palki.
One of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in India, the Hindu pilgrimage destination is visited by thousands of devotees every year, seeking the divine blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi.
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Best Time to Visit Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi is open to pilgrims throughout the year, but the best time to visit Vaishno Devi is between March and October. Being a Himalayan destination, winters can be extremely cold, hence the moderate to pleasant climate between March and October allows easy access to the cave temple in Jammu. Also, another major time to visit Vaishno Devi is during Navratras.
Places to See in and around Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi Temple – The main cave temple is the biggest pilgrimage attractions in the region. Housing Goddess Mata Adi Shakti, the Vaishno Devi temple is the biggest tourist attraction in the trip.
Ardh Kuwari Cave – Before making Bhavan her abode, Mata Adi Shakti is believed to have spent 9 months in this cave.
Bhairavnath Temple – Dedicated to the saint Bhairavnath, no trip to Katra or Mata Vaishno Devi is ever complete without having visited the famous Bhairavnath Mandir.
Nau Devi Temple – Located near Katra, the cave temple houses 9 deities which are incarnations of Goddess Durga.
Dera Baba Banda – Located near Katra, the 300 years old Gurudwara is dedicated to Baba Banda Bahadur.
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