Katra

Katra (Star Trek), the Vulcan word for a person's soul or spirit. It is popularly known, is a small town in Reasi district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi is located. This beautiful destination is located around 42 kilometers from the city of Jammu and is at the altitude of 754 meters (2,474 feet). Katra serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno Devi.
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. Set in the spectacular hills of the lower Himalayas, about 31 miles from Jammu, this small town serves as a jumping-off point for one of the world’s great pilgrimages. Indian spiritual legend says that those who visit the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi will be granted any righteous wish they make. Devotees hike roughly eight miles to the shrine, which is located at 5,300 feet. Scenic helicopter flights also transport visitors to the site, which draws more than five million people annually.