Trip to Vaishnodevi and Patnitop

Somebody has really rightly said, if there is heaven somewhere on earth, it is in Kashmir.Although i didn't went there but i can imagine about the beauty of the Kashmir being at the Patnitop.

3rd January

We went to Vaishnodevi trip and luckily, we completed the Darshan timely on 3^rd January and had 2 full days at our disposal. We were expecting the snowfall at Vaishnodevi and Bhairov Baba but that didn’t happen. We made the program at this time of the year expecting snow inspite of huge resistance from the family. Generally, during the 1st week of January every year there is heavy snowfall and the roads get blocked or so. I thought that i can visit this place at this season only this time because presently i have a lot of free time and no pressure of job and all and still a bachelor. Later, i am sure there will always be issues to visit in January.

Me and my cousin in train

It was a big day. We reached Jammu at 5 in the morning. From there, we went to kathara and took the hotel for an hour and then start our journey of 14km. I was with a group of my cousin and they all were very fast, they all are from villages and practices Yoga and all regularly. I had face a lot of difficulties because of the same. I was like a bottleneck moving at the end of the trail. I was confused what made them so fast when we have a lot of time.

Near Sanchi chat 2km before vaishnodevi

At around 5, we reached at the top, had Darshan timely because the Darshan are halted from 6 to 9 every day due to Aarti, cleanliness and all. The weather was so chilled, temperature was about 1 degree Celsius. I didn't take a bath due to lack of time as well as cold weather. At 7, we left for Bhairav Baba. This time, me and my cousin hired a horse. we reached at the top by 7.30 at the top and had to wait till 8pm because the door of the temple usually get closed from 7 to 8.

Waiting at Bhairaov Baba

 From there, we left for the Ardhkumari cave. This was interesting part. I have never been there. At 10, we entered in the queue and at around 1 am , we passed from the cave. It was very narrow and many people were quiet nervous, some even get stuck but by god's grace, everybody get passed. We reached at the hotel at 5 in the morning.

4th Jan

We planned a trip to Patnitop for 1 day and thereafter Natha top. Although, i had visit that place around 7 years but still we decided to visit it again as there were lot of people in the group who were first timers. We had begun our journey at around 11 am. from katra in a Tempo traveller. We were on NH-44. It was the same highway that connect  Srinagar. We were very excited. There were lot of check posts and military trucks in the route and the view was just marvellous. Patnitop was 130 kms from Jammu and just 180 km before Srinagar. When we were about to reach Patnitop, we saw that all the roads and trees are covered with snow. 

At Patnitop

Somebody told that the snowfall took place just before half an hour and it was the first snowfall of the season.We considered ourselves very lucky. 

At Patnitop

We reached at patnitop at 3 pm and left it around 7 to reach the Jammu directly at 11.

5th Jan

We visit the local places of Jammu including the famous temple Raghunath which was attacked by terrorists few years back. There is not much to visit in Jammu. I was there 2, 3 times before. I was insisting to visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar but due to reservations from Jammu, the plan become quite complex and risky too.  So, we decided to spend a day in Jammu and caught a train back to Saharanpur at 6 in the evening.

You can read here about my Patnitop trip in detail.