Katra
Encyclopedia
Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Jammu and Kashmir
, India
, situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi
is located. It is part of the Reasi District
and is located 42 km from the city of Jammu
.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
, one of the leading technical university of India is also located here.
There also been reports of possible oil reserves in the area
, Katra had a population of 7569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Katra has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 65%. In Katra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
. It has a thriving tourism industry that offers plenty of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, fast-food joints that fit all kinds of budgets. Free accommodation is provided by some registered trusts in the form of Sarais for the poor. The number of pilgrims that visit the shrine every year has increased from 1.4 million in 1986 to 8.2 million in 2009. Over the years, a lot has changed, but one should not miss the opportunity to walk through the main bazaar (market) for buying (do not forget/hesitate to negotiate a bit) souvenirs, dryfruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc.
To reach Vaishno Devi temple the pilgrims have to register at the Katra before starting the trek. By registering, the pilgrims get accidental insurance while on the trek for 1 lakh INR. It is a trek of 13.5 km.
There is another trek (1.5 km) from Vaishno Devi temple for Baba Bhaironnath. It is said that the pilgrimage is not complete until you visit this temple at last. The scenery throughout the trek is pictursque.
Environment-friendly auto rickshaws and helicopter services also have started now-a-days to make the journey a pleasant one.
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the holy Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hills of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.The temple is near the town of Katra, in the Reasi...
is located. It is part of the Reasi District
Reasi District
Reasi is one of the oldest towns of the Jammu and Kashmir State. It was the seat of the erstwhile Bhimgarh State, said to have been established by Raja Bhim Dev somewhere in the 8th century. It remained an independent principality till 1822, when Maharaja Gulab Singh the then King of Jammu...
and is located 42 km from the city of Jammu
Jammu (city)
Jammu is the largest city in the Jammu region and the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is a municipal corporation.It is close to Sialkot in Pakistan...
.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, commonly referred to as SMVD University or SMVDU, is a Statutory university on an campus located near Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated near the Shrine of the Mata Vaishno Devi, after which it is named...
, one of the leading technical university of India is also located here.
Geography
Katra is located at 32.98°N 74.95°E. It has an average elevation of 754 metres (2,474 feet).There also been reports of possible oil reserves in the area
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Katra had a population of 7569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Katra has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 65%. In Katra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Tourism
Katra serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno DeviVaishno Devi
Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the holy Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hills of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.The temple is near the town of Katra, in the Reasi...
. It has a thriving tourism industry that offers plenty of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, fast-food joints that fit all kinds of budgets. Free accommodation is provided by some registered trusts in the form of Sarais for the poor. The number of pilgrims that visit the shrine every year has increased from 1.4 million in 1986 to 8.2 million in 2009. Over the years, a lot has changed, but one should not miss the opportunity to walk through the main bazaar (market) for buying (do not forget/hesitate to negotiate a bit) souvenirs, dryfruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc.
To reach Vaishno Devi temple the pilgrims have to register at the Katra before starting the trek. By registering, the pilgrims get accidental insurance while on the trek for 1 lakh INR. It is a trek of 13.5 km.
There is another trek (1.5 km) from Vaishno Devi temple for Baba Bhaironnath. It is said that the pilgrimage is not complete until you visit this temple at last. The scenery throughout the trek is pictursque.
Environment-friendly auto rickshaws and helicopter services also have started now-a-days to make the journey a pleasant one.
See also
- JammuJammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
- Jammu taviJammu taviJammu tawi is a town located in Jammu and Kashmir, India.-See also:* Jammu* Nagrota* Talab Tillo* Samba, Jammu* Kathua* Jammu Cantonment* Hiranagar* Akhnoor...
- Talab TilloTalab TilloTalab Tillo is a suburban area of Jammu City in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and is situated in Jammu Province. It derived its name from a Saint 'Tilloo' and from a pond which was situated here. In Hindi "talab" means pond...
- Samba, JammuSamba, JammuSee Samba for other meaningsSamba is a town in Samba district in the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir. Before the formation of Samba district, this town was part of Jammu district...
- NagrotaNagrotaNagrota is a town located in the Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. It is located on National Highway 1A between Jammu city and Udhampur...
- KathuaKathuaKathua is the largest city of the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the third largest city in the Jammu region and the sixth largest in the state. The word "Kathua" is derived from the word "Thuan" in Dogri which means "Scorpios". The city was the land of Scorpios before the settling of...
- Jammu CantonmentJammu CantonmentJammu Cantonment is a cantonment town in Jammu District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.-Demographics: India census, Jammu Cantonment had a population of 30,107. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Jammu Cantonment has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the...
- HiranagarHiranagarHiranagar is a town and a notified area committee in Kathua district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.It is a Tehsil HQ. Raja Hari Singh is believed to have founded Hiranagar Town after his name when he was bestowed with the Jagir of Jasrota by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab . He also...
- AkhnoorAkhnoorAkhnoor is a town in Jammu district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.Located from Jammu, Akhnoor is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an extremely beautiful town...
- Chenab River Railway BridgeChenab River Railway BridgeChenab River Railway Bridge is a 359 metres high arch bridge at Katra, Jammu-Kashmir, India under construction. When completed as scheduled in 2015, it will be the tallest railway bridge in the world. The bridge will consist beside the arc of a further pillar bridge section....
- a tall railway bridge under construction. - Baghe-Bahu Kali Mata Temple and Park Jammu