Vaishno Devi- A Religious Place to Visit

Hello friends,
Jai Mata Di!!

For a change let me take you all to religious places in India. The place today we shall know about is Vaishno Devi. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is considered to fulfill anything and everything that a person wishes for in life, in a righteous way. It is an experience of all, that no one goes empty handed from Her Great Pilgrimage.The culmination of this journey is at the Holy Cave where She merged Her Human form with the astral form of Her creators, the three Supreme Energies. The holy cave shrine of Vaishno-Devi is situated in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas as in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. There are images of three deities viz, the Mahakali, Maha-Lakshmi and Maha-Saraswati.

Whats This? Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji resides in a Holy Cave located in the folds of the three peaked mountain named Trikuta (pronounced as Trikoot). The Holy Cave attracts lakhs of devotees every year. In fact, the number of Yatris visiting the Holy Shrine annually now exceeds 5 million. This is due to the unflinching faith of the devotees who throng the Shrine from all parts of India and abroad.Darshans (to view the deity) are open round the clock throughout the year.

Located Where? Katra is 50 kms from Jammu. This small town serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Vaishnodeviji in the Trikuta Hills. The shrine is approachable on foot along a 12 kms long well laid foot-path. Every year, nearly 4 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to Vaishnodeviji. Accomodation is available in Tourist Bungalows, Yatrika and a number of private hotels, beside pilgrims ''sarais'. The Holy Cave of the Mother is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. The Yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra. Katra town is located at an altitude of nearly 2500 ft above sea level while the sanctum sanctorum is located at nearly 5200 ft. above sea level. There is obviously a significant temperature difference between the two locations.

How do we Reach There? In order to visit the Holy Shrine of Vaishno Devi, one has to reach Katra, a small town situated around 50 kms. from Jammu, the winter capital of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Katra serves as the base camp for the yatra. Katra is well connected to Jammu and Jammu, in turn, is well connected to the rest of the country by Air, Rail, and Road. Jammu is well connected to the rest of India by air, rail & roads. Many superfast trains ply on the route and one can reach Jammu overnight from New Delhi. Passengers using Air or Rail as a mode of travel have necessarily to break their journey at Jammu and from thereon select an alternative mode of transport. However for passengers traveling by road, either through public or own transport, there is an option of taking a by-pass from Kunjwani, nearly 10 kms. off Jammu and heading straight for the base camp i.e Katra.

Best time to visit: The Yatra to the Holy Shrine is open throughout the year. The summer months of May, June and July and the festival period of Chaitra (spring) and Sharad-Ashwin (Autumn) Navratras and New Year vacations witness peak rush.Devotees have to often wait for 12-20 hours before having Darshan (to see the deity) during this time. Instead the monsoons and winters are good periods to plan a yatra. The winter months of December and January witness snow fall.

Clothing & Accessories: One needs to carry heavy woollen clothing during the winters. For the rest of the year, light woollens are needed. Even during hot summers, Katra turns hot and humid, the main Shrine area, known as Bhawan continues to remain on the cooler side especially in the nights. Blankets are available a plenty free of cost and there is no need to carry them. One may also need canvas shoes for the Yatra. For those going on foot, a walking stick is very helpful in negotiating the steep climbs. Umbrellas and rain coats are required during the rainy seasons. Shoes, cameras, walking sticks, torches, head bands, umbrellas and many more such articles for which a person may not be prepared beforehand are readily available on hire at various private shops all over Katra and also on the way to Holy Shrine. Rates as usual are negotiable.

Major Attractions:

Around Jammu you can visit the
Raghunath Temple: which is situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of other temples, this temple dedicated to Lord Rama is outstanding and unique in Northern India.The inner walls of the main temple are covered with gold sheet on three sides.

Ranbireshwar Temple: Located on the Shalimar Road near the New Secretariat, and built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in1883 AD, Ranbireshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has one central 'Lingam' measuring seven and a half feet height (7.5 ft.) and twelve Shiva 'Lingams' of crystal measuring from 15 cms to 38 cms and galleries with thousands of Shiva 'Lingams' fixed on stone slabs.

Amarmahal: This is a beautiful palace of red sand stone which stands amidst the most picturesque environments of Jammu. There is beautiful view of the Shiwaliks at the north and the River Tawi flows down below adding to the Grandeur. This was once the residential palace of Raja Amar Singh the palace has been converted to a museum. The museum has a gallery of paintings known as NAL DAMYANTI. It has a library of around 25000 books on various subjects and disciplines. This is a beautiful spot to be visited round the year in Jammu. Hotel Hari Nivas Palace Hotel, a heritage Hotel is also located adjacent to this place.

Bahu Fort / Temple: 5 kms from Jammu city situated on a rock face on the left bank of the river Tawi, this is perhaps the oldest fort and edifice in the city. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali inside the fort popularly known as Bave wali Mata.Today the fort is surrounded with beautiful terraced garden which is favourite picnic spot of the city folk. It has waterfalls, flowers and big trees.

Mansar Lake: is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills. Boating facilities are available on the spot. Every year around Baisakhi (April), a food and crafts festival is organised here by J&K Tourism.

Around Katra you can visit

Patni Top: 112 kms from Jammu, this famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including skiing. It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu. There are a large number of huts and Tourists Bunglows, all managed by J&K TDC. You can enjoy trekking (summer), skiing (winter), aero sports (May-June and Septemer-October are best suited for paragliding), boating here.

Batote: This place is on the National highway connecting Jammu and Srinagar,125 kms from Jammu situated at an altitude of 1560 metres on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. One can enjoy the beauty of Chenab gorge from this place, take long walks in deep jungles and enjoy the beauty of coniferous forests camping in the jungles, trek upto Sanasar and Patnitop.

Mantalaii: Situated a few kilometers further away from Sudh Mahadev, Mantalaii is surrounded by lush deodar forests, at an altitude of over 2000 metres. It is believed that Lord Shiva had got married to the Goddess Parvati here

Shiv Khori: There are many places of tourist and religious importance around Katra also. The devotees coming for the darshans of the deity can club their pilgrimage with a visit to these places. Shivkhori- the Holy Cave abode of Lord Shiva is situated at a distance of 70 Kms from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly half a kilometer in length with a 4 feet high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The cave is in the shape of Lord Shiva's Damroo i.e. wide at the two ends while very congested at the center. You can observe natural milky water dripping from the top to the Shiv-Ling symbolizing the eternity of the holy river Ganga. The Shiv-Khori Shrine is well connected to Katra / Jammu by road.

Precautions :

1. Avoid resting near landslide prone areas.
2. Avoid carrying too much cash, jewelry and valuables. Take proper care whatever you carry and beware of pickpockets and petty thieves.
3. Don’t trust strangers with belongings. Deposit all excess baggage in the cloak rooms.
4. Don’t eat anything offered by strangers
5. Beware of suspicious persons and unclaimed articles and report about the same to the security personnel.
6. Obtain cash receipt for any cash paid at the Shrine Board outlets.
   Avoid using routes closed for repairs. This can prove extremely dangerous.
7. Yatries with high blood pressure or heart or asthamatic problems must seek clearance from their doctors before starting the journey.
8. Yatries with any kind of medical problems are strongly advised against using the stairs.

General Info / Tips:
All pilgrims without exception are required to register themselves before undertaking the Yatra. The task of registration is done by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which is the only STATUTORY & LEGAL authority for the purpose. No other organization, private or public is authorized to issue the Yatra slip. The registration process is entirely FREE and is fully computerized. This process is carried out at the Yatra Registration Counter, popularly known as (YRC), situated at Bus stand, Katra. Under this, a visitor has to register his name along with the number of companions and he is issued a computerized Slip (Yatra slip/Parchi) which is the documentary permission for him to proceed on his journey to the main Shrine. He is required to cross the first Check Post located at Banganga (around 1.5 kilometers from the YRC) within 6 hours of the issue of the slip, failing which his slip is confiscated at the Check Post and he is required to take a fresh slip altogether.One Yatra Slip is issued for a maximum of 9 family members only.

Free Accomodation: For the convenience of the Yatries(Pilgrims), a number of halls have been provided at at Adhkuwari, Sanjichhat & Bhawan. These halls are available free of cost but their availability is on a first come first served basis. Pilgrims can also spend the night in these halls. Free accommodation is also made available at Katra in the Niharika complex. Accommodation in the form of sheds is also made available near the Yatra Parchi counter II (YRC-II), adjacent to the New Bus Stand (Bus Stand No. II ). Besides accommodation, blankets are also provided free of cost.

Rented Accomodation: For the benefit of the pilgrims, Vaishno Devi Shrine Board provides clean, well maintained and very economical accommodation. This accommodation is available at Jammu (at Vaishnavi Dham and Saraswati Dham near Railway Station), at Katra (at Niharika Yatri Niwas and Shakti Bhawan situated at the Bus stand) Katra.

1.Before proceeding for the trek, obtain a Yatra slip from Yatra Registration Counter, near bus stand Katra.The slip is issued free of cost. No one is allowed to proceed beyond Banganga check post without obtaining the Yatra slip.

2.In case you wish to avail of the facility of rented accommodation at Katra, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat or Bhawan, please get the room reservation done from the Enquiry and Reservation Counter at Niharika Complex (near the Bus Stand) Katra.

3.Kindly confirm the rates of the Porters, Ponies and Palanquins before hiring them and ensure that they carry a valid registration card. Note down their numbers before entrusting them with your valuables. Please do not pay more than the approved rates.

4.Video cameras, mobile phones and other electronic equipment are not allowed on the track. Please make arrangements for their safekeeping at Katra itself.

5.Travel light. Please leave all unnecessary clothes and luggage at Katra itself. Food, drink and blankets are freely available. There is no need to carry these items along.

6. Avoid loud dresses, vulgar language or offensive talk or gestures.

7. Consumption of liquor, intoxicants and non vegetarian food is strictly prohibited.

8.Video film shooting is prohibited enroute. Please leave your video cameras at Katra.

Jai Mata Di!!

City of Dreams - Mumbai (Bombay)

Let me take you to the 'City of Dreams', Mumbai (Bombay)- the glamour of Bollywood cinema, shopping malls, families eating bhelpuri on the beach at Chowpatty, red double-decker buses, a city with vibrant streetlife, India's best nightlife, and a wealth of bazaars.

Located Where? Mumbai is located on Salsette Island which lies at the mouth of Ulhas River off the western coast of India in the coastal region known as the Konkan. Most of Mumbai is at sea level and the average elevation ranges from 10 to 15 metres.

How do we Reach There? By Air - Mumbai has a vast infrastructure of rail, road & airways. It has the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Sahar) and the domestic terminal (Santa Cruz) are 30km (19mi) and 26km (16mi) respectively from downtown Mumbai.

By Rail - Two railway systems operate out of Mumbai. Central Railways handles services to the east and south, plus a few trains to the north. Western Railways has services to the north from Churchgate and Central stations. Trains travel frequently between Mumbai and Agra, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Pune and Varanasi.The local railway that runs inside the city is one of the dependable ways of communication.

Best time to visit : The best time to explore Mumbai is between the months of September and April, when the weather is relatively dry and cool. The monsoon season begins from June to September. January is the coolest month, though 12°C (53°F) is about as low as it goes. March and October tend to swelter, with temperatures rising as high as 38°C (100°F). Extreme climate, from April to mid-June falling to almost freezing at night in winter, between November and February. Summers are hot with monsoons between June and September. The climate is pleasant between October and March, blast-furnace hot between April and June, and dripping with humidity between July and September.
Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens in summer with warmer clothes in winter and on cooler evenings. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.

Major Attractions : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum) near Kalaghoda- Mumbai's biggest and best museum displaying a mixed bag of dusty exhibits from all over India. Opened in 1923 to commemorate King George V's first visit to India (back in 1905, while he was still Prince of Wales), the vast collection inside includes impressive Hindu and Buddhist sculpture, terracotta figurines from the Indus Valley, miniature paintings, porcelain and some particularly vicious weaponry. You can take advantage of the free, multilanguage audio guides as not everything is labelled.

Chowpatty Beach in Charni Road- A favourite spot for full experience by strolling through the many beachside stalls for some bhelpuri or a head massage. The water is not the cleanest but the beach is litter-free, patrolled by lifeguards and lit up at night. Visiting Chowpatty in the evening is an essential part of any trip to Mumbai.

Marine Drive (Chowpatty)- is one Mumbai's most popular promenades and sunset-watching spots. It's twinkling night-time lights earned it the nickname 'the Queen's Necklace'.Chowpatty Beach remains a favourite evening spot for courting couples, families, political rallies and anyone out to enjoy what passes for fresh air. Eating an evening time bhelpuri at the throng of stalls found here is an essential part of the Mumbai experience.

Colaba (Churchgate)- a bustling district packed with street stalls, markets, bars and budget to midrange lodgings. While you're here, it's worth popping into the 1847 Church of St John the Evangelist, known as the Afghan Church. Nearby Colaba Market (Lala Nigam St) has plenty of activity and colour and is lined with jewellery shops and fruit and veg stalls.

Gateway of India (Colaba, Churchgate)- was built to commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George V. The gateway is a favourite gathering spot for locals and a top spot for people-watching. Boats depart from the gateway's wharfs for Elephanta Island and Mandwa. You can also take a joy-ride on the boat for a local trip round the gateway. You can see the famous Taj Mahal hotel opposite the gateway of India. Here you can ride in a Victoria - one of the horse-drawn gilded carriages known as Ghoda-Gaadi in the local language. Some distance away is the Fashion Street where you can bargain for some fashionable & trendy day to day clothes, jewellery, shoes.

Elephanta Island (by boat from Gateway of India) - Every day except Monday, tourist boats head out from the Gateway of India to this magnificent island, home to the most famous cave temples in Maharashtra. Carved into the solid rock of the island are a series of ornate Shaivite temples, covered in ornate carvings of Hindu deities.
The centrepiece of the complex is a monumental statue of Mahesh Murti, depicting Shiva as the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe.Boats to Elephanta leave the Gateway of India regularly between 09:00 and 14:30 and the fare is around Rs90.00 on an economy boat or Rs110.00 on a deluxe boat. The last return service from Elephanta leaves around 17:30 . On the way, check out the giant freighters in Mumbai Harbour. The Elephanta Festival is a classical dance and music event on Elephanta Island. One can give a visit as an excursion trip just few kilometers away from the beach. This festival is usually held in the month February.

Museum Ship Vikrant (Mumbai Harbour)- Built in 1945 and bought by the Indian Navy in 1957, the massive aircraft carrier INS Vikrant now serves as a fascinating museum. Admission includes the ferry ride out to the ship, then a walk through the various quarters, the hold (displaying diving bells, submarines and various aircraft) and finally the enormous deck with take-off and landing strip. Tickets are available from the booking offices near the Gateway.

Jehangir Art Gallery (MG Rd, Kala Ghoda)- The Jehangir Art Gallery is one of Mumbai's principal commercial galleries, hosting interesting weekly shows by Indian artists; most works are for sale. Rows of hopeful local artists often display their work on the pavement outside this gallery.

Haji Ali Mosque (Mahalaxmi)- Floating like a sacred mirage off the coast, the Haji Ali Mosque is one of Mumbai's most striking shrines. Built in the 19th century, it contains the tomb of the Muslim saint Haji - legend has it that Haji Ali died while on a pilgrimage to Mecca and his casket miraculously floated back to this spot.

Mahalaxmi Racecourse (Mahalaxmi)- Mumbai's horse-racing season runs from November to the end of April. Races are held on Sunday and Thursday afternoons (Saturday and Sunday towards the end of the season) at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Big races, such as the Indian Derby in February, are major social occasions.

Kamala Nehru Park- At the top of Mumbai's Malabar Hill where the elite have built their plush modern palaces is Kamala Nehru Park, the hangout of the bourgeois middle class. It has little to offer by way of entertainment, apart from a "Old Woman's Shoe" relegated to a distant corner, but the view of the city is spectacular and unmissable. Its a vantage point that casts a proud eye on the entire city.

Hanging Gardens- Perched at the top of Malabar Hill, on its western side, just opposite the Kamala Nehru Park, these terraced gardens, also known as Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, provide lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea. The park was laid out in the early 1880s over Bombay's main reservoir, some say to cover the water from the potentially contaminating activity of the nearby Towers of Silence.

Mumbai Zoo (Byculla)- The Mumbai Zoo is remarkably well-maintained. The animals are a little few and far between, with the few local species in large cages including crocs, elephants, rhinos and a few bored lions. There's a small playground, and it's generally a popular place for families and couples to meander.

Nehru Centre & Nehru Planetarium (Dr Annie Besant Rd, Worli)- The most striking thing about the Nehru Centre & Nehru Planetarium cultural complex, which includes a decent planetarium and the serpentine-but-interesting history exhibition Discovery of India is the bold modern architecture of the buildings. The tower looks like a giant cylindrical pineapple, the planetarium a UFO. There's also a theatre here.

�Juhu Beach (Santacruz)- Like Chowpatty, uptown Juhu Beach is also a bourgeois paradise, filled to the gills with screaming children, courting couples and rowdy adolescents. If you want a more fancy excursion, however, retreat behind Juhu's many five star hotels, for a steaming cup of coffee and a splendid view of the coast. The most popular of these beachfront hotels are the Sun and Sand and Holiday Inn. The government run Juhu Centaur also has a 24 hour coffee shop with a view of the sea. You can also visit the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple (Iskon temple) which is closeby & famous for the Radha-Krishna sculpture.

Esselworld (Borivili)- This is Mumbai's only international-style theme park and amusement centre situated close to Gorai Beach. Special ferries get you across to the park and the entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides. These include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. Summer is usually crowded, but the place also offers low budget monsoon packages and special deals on weekends. Check these out before you go. The famous Waterkingdom (waterpark) is also just besides the Esselworld. You can chose to go between the two.

Precautions : Make sure you book your hotels with reputed travel agents, keeping one's ears and eyes wide open while roaming in an unknown place always pays. It is advisable to keep the belongings well locked and should not left behind carelessly.

People are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, avoid crowded places, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. It is highly advised to avoid the beaches for swimming and having sunbath. Visitors should be dressed decently. Avoid littering the beaches or polluting the sea.

General Info / Tips: Local roadside fast food in Mumbai includes vada pav, panipuri, paav bhaji, bhelpuri and golaas a must-have.

Festivals and celebrations are observed by residents of all communities and religions. Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Navratri, Good Friday, Dussera, Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and Maha Shivratri are some of the most popular festivals in the city. The local language spoken is Marathi.

Mumbai is well connected to most parts of India by the Indian Railways. Trains originate from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai Central, Bandra terminus and Andheri. Mumbai's suburban rail systems carry a total of 6.3 million passengers every day.Most of Mumbai's inhabitants rely on public transport to travel to and from their workplace. Transport systems in Mumbai include the Mumbai Suburban Railway, BEST buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and ferries.

Bollywood is the nickname for the Indian film industry located in Bombay (now known as Mumbai, though Mollywood hasn't quite caught on.) Indians are in love with movies. Mumbai (Bollywood) leads India in film production, its specialty lies with Hindi movies. Bollywood films are being shown in American and British theaters on a more and more frequent basis. These theaters have become community foci for the South Asian communities around the world. Bollywood's film production center is a government-owned studio facility known as "Film City" in the northern suburbs of Mumbai. Bollywood traces its start to 1911 when the first silent Indian feature film was released by D.P. Phalke. The industry boomed and today there are over 250 theaters in Mumbai alone.