Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra - How to Reach, What to Eat and Guide to Trekking from Katra

From Amritsar to Katra: A Rain-Drenched, Pony-Powered Pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi

Fresh from the shimmering Golden Temple in Amritsar — stomachs full of langar and souls washed clean — we packed up for Katra, the gateway to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. Cue the dramatic Bollywood monsoon soundtrack: it started raining. But unlike a typical Indian family road trip, we had already stalked the weather app for a week, so we were prepared with raincoats, umbrellas, and enough hot chai to power a startup.

By noon, we crossed Pathankot and entered Jammu. Heavy rain + growling tummies = a pitstop at a roadside dhaba. 

Pro tip: nothing beats piping-hot parathas with chai while staring at misty hills. Instagram stories practically post themselves.

The Golden Temple, Amritsar (Punjab), India

The Golden Temple

There are two things every Indian grows up hearing: “Beta, eat your greens” and “Beta, visit holy shrines.” So, in my grand plan to wash off a lifetime of “forgot-to-return-the-change” sins, I decided to head to The Golden Temple in Amritsar — also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib — followed by a pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi in Katra, Jammu.

It was a family trip, which automatically meant extra snacks, extra opinions, and extra bathroom breaks. But we showed restraint and mostly stuck to chai and biscuits, determined to reach Amritsar on time. By 8 AM, bleary-eyed but spiritually ambitious, we rolled into the city of golden serenity.