What is the history and culture of Katra?

The small town of Katra in Reasi district is located on the foothills of Trikuta Mountains and is the base camp of Vaishno Devi Yatra. The holy shrine of Vaishno Devi, is a 13 km trek from here, located on Trikuta Mountain.

The story of this pious temple goes that more than seven hundred years ago, Vaishno Devi who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, took to celibacy. She established an ashram at the foothills of Trikuta Mountain where she meditated and worshiped him. Bhairon Nath, a demon God, observed her and soon started fancying her. Realising the motives of the demon, Vaishno Devi fled to Himalayas to continue with her spiritual calling. The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Ardh Kuwari known as Garbh Joon, and the demon kept looking for her. It took him nine long months to locate her and also call for his own death. She took the form of Mata Kali and beheaded the demon with her trident when he tried to harass her. Before he breathed his last, the demon asked the Goddess for forgiveness. The Goddess took a permanent abode in Trikuta Mountains and hence came up the holy temple where you can feel the aura of the divine and truly connect with your inner soul.

Located in the vicinity of the sacred temple of Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra is a well known Pilgrim centre. The small town sees a huge influx of devotees from all over the country to soak in the spiritual air it has. This place is preserver of our mythology and rich cultural heritage.

Come here and experience the divine. Away from the worldly pleasure, this place gives you a chance to savour the magical aura that it is shrouded in.

With the best places to visit in the Katra, you'll get a better understanding of the history and culture of the place.