11 Best Places to Visit in Katra In 2024

Katra is a small town which is located on the scenic Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous for Maa Vaishno Devi – one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage places. 

Moreover, there’s a lot more to Katra apart from being just a pilgrimage destination. There are some amazing Kashmir travel packages, if you plan your journey. There are many religious, historical and beautiful places to visit in Katra situated in and around that are worth exploring. 

Before planning your trip, do check the government website to make your journey more exciting and remarkable. Other religious Places to Visit in Kashmir Near Katra Vaishno Devi are Charan Paduka, Darshan Dwar, Bhairon and Geeta Mandir. It is also a shopper’s paradise. You can book tickets if you are planning your journey in summer.

 Maa Vaishno Devi Temple – Seek Blessings

When we think of Katra, the only place that immediately comes to mind is the Vaishno Devi temple which is amongst the Places to Visit in Katra . The temple is situated amidst Trikuta mountains. The place has a cave where Mata appeared in three rock forms, known as Pindies. To reach the holy shrine, you have to trek 13 Km uphill from Katra. There are horse and buggy services for the elderly and weak. There is also the option of taking a helicopter ride till Sanjichhat and walking 2.5 km from there to reach the shrine. 

Location: Bhavan, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir 182301
Timings: 5 AM-12 PM and 4 PM-9 PM

Charan Paduka – See Vaishnavi Maa’s Footprints

This is among the most favourable places to see in Katra and one of the best things to do in Kashmir that lies on the way to the cave or bhawan of Maa Vaishno Devi. 

Charan Paduka is where the foot imprints of Maa can be seen on a rock slab. Mata Vaishno Devi or Vaishnavi was being chased by Bhairavnath. She was moving towards her cave when she decided to rest here for a while. That is when her footprints got lodged in the rocks.

Location: Katra, Jammu
Timings: NA

Ban Ganga – Take A Refreshing Dip

Another holy stop when moving towards Vaishno Devi is Ban Ganga. It is one of the most famous places in Katra. The Shivalik Range of Himalayas is where this Ganga originates from and it is one of the best places to Visit in Katra.

Once Mata Vaishanvi was going towards her abode in the cave when the monkey accompanying her felt thirsty. With no water around, Maa shot an arrow in the earth, out of which the Ganga sprang up. That gave it the name Ban (arrow) Ganga.

Location: Katra, Jammu
Timings: NA

Bhairavnath Temple – Take In The Majestic Views

After reaching Maa in Vaishno Devi temple, one of the best religious places in Kashmir, move up a bit to pay Baba Bhairavnath a visit, one of the best Places to Visit in Katra for sightseeing. You just have to walk 2 to 3 km upwards from Vaishno Devi to reach Bhairavnath temple. 

This one of the religious places to visit near katra is dedicated to saint Bhairav who later turned demonic. 

Location: Trikuta parvat, Reasi District, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir 

Timings: 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Baba Dhansar – Bask In Natural Beauty

Baba Dhansar is another of the many must-visit holy places of Katra tourism. It is located less than 13 Km from Katra.

It requires climbing stairs, around 100 of them. There is a temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva with an interesting legend associated with it. Apart from this amazing temple, tourists get attracted by marvellous waterfalls and lush greenery all around.

Location: Katra
Timings: NA

Sanasar – Go Paragliding

Popularly called ‘Mini Gulmarg’, Sanasar is located 17 km away from Patnitop. It is one of the best Places to Visit in Katra which is a little away from Katra, you will have to travel for around 3 hours on road to reach the location. The place is a marvellous home of mesmerising lakes, hills and forests. You can also look for more details about the place.

You can also indulge yourself in adrenaline sports like paragliding, hot air ballooning, and horse riding during summers.

Location: Katra, Jammu

Timings: NA

Raghunath Temple – Stunning Architecture And Interior Design

Raghunath Temple is one of those places to visit in Katra which is located at a distance of 8 kms from the city of Jammu. It was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh and is dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple is amongst the largest temples in Northern India. Other idols in the temples include Lord Krishna, Ganesh Ji, and other Hindu deities.

The temple also reflects the Mughal architectural style and the main tower is built in Sikh architectural style. 

Location: Katra, Jammu and Kashmir
Timings: 6 am-8 pm 

Ranbireshwar Temple – Dedicated To Lord Shiva

The temple is particularly dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ranbireshwar Temple is one of the other top places to visit in Katra.

 It is among the 12  Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva in India and is visited by devotees. It is mostly crowded during major festivals like Diwali, Lohri, Ram Navami and Makar Sankranti. 

Location: Shalamar Road near ciivil secretariat
Timings: NA

9. Dera Baba Banda – Pilgrimage Centre For The Sikhs

A must-visit pilgrimage centre for the Sikhs, Dera Baba Banda is another famous place to Visit in Katra.  

The complex is 300 years old and has a Gurudwara built by Guru Gobind Singh’s favourite Baba Banda Bairaagi. It is constructed with white marble stone, Gurudwara’s interior design and architecture is really commendable. Pilgrims visit in large numbers here during the annual mela which is organised in Vaisakhi for three days.  

Location: Shalamar Road near civil secretariat
Timings: 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Trikuta Parvat

Trikuta Parvat is one of the most famous places in Katra, Jammu. The hills are also home to the famous Trikutchal Mahadev Temple. 

It is also famous for its apples. Tourists can be seen enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the hills while enjoying their hearty meals. The hills give you a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape, making you realise why Kashmir is called heaven on Earth.

Baba Dhansar

The temple is located in the Karua Village which is 17 km away from Katra. Pilgrims can enjoy taking a dip in the stream near the lake. Devotees gladly embark on this long and tiring journey to get their wishes fulfilled.  

The temple receives huge numbers of devotees during Shivratri. The place has a vibrant environment with the hymns and chantings dedicated to lord Shiva by the devotees.

Best Time to Visit Katra

It can be visited throughout the year, but the best season to visit Katra is from November to March.

• Summer Season (April to June)

Katra experiences warm to hot summers with the temperature rising to 40°C which might be inconvenient for many travellers. 

• Monsoon Season (July to August)

Katra receives very little rainfall during the months of August and September. However, the humidity remains high which also makes it inconvenient to visitors. 

• Winter Season (September to March)

The winter in Katra starts from October and remains till March. It is one of the best places to visit in India during winters, especially if you want to see snowfall in Kashmir.

How To Reach Katra

You can reach there by Air, train or by road as well. 

• The Satwari Airport in Jammu is the nearest airport to Katra (51 km away) and it is well-connected to all the major cities of India.

• The Katra Railway Station was inaugurated recently and it lies on the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link. It is connected to Delhi and direct trains from Delhi to Katra are available. 

• Additionally, Katra is well-connected to Jammu by State and National Highways. Direct buses to Katra are available from Jammu, Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Dharamshala, Pathankot and many other cities of India.

So, you need not to worry about “How To Reach Katra “, you can easily and safely reach the destination.

Things to do in Katra

Many tourists don’t know that Katra is itself a beautiful place that anyone would be lucky to explore. Here are the following activities you should keep in your kitty-list:

1. White-Water Rafting

White-water rafting is one of those Top Things to do in Katra that you will always want to do in your life. 

It is surrounded by the majestic river in Katra. One of the most famous rafting stretches around the globe, and this activity is one of a kind. If you are looking for some fun in your life, then you should not miss out on this opportunity 

The right time to do white-water rafting in Katra: May, June, November, and December. 

Tourists who should take part in this activity: Both experienced and beginners can take part in white-water rafting because a trained rafter will be present during the entire journey.

Length of the raft: The entire length of the float is 15km.
Total charge of the trip: INR 19,500. It is a premium-grade activity.

Take A Short Trip To Himkoti

Most people in India do not know the name Himkoti, but it has amazing views that are worth visiting. You will have a great time while visiting Himkoti because not only it offers the bird’s eye view of the entirety of Jammu valley, but the site is pretty neat and well-maintained. 

The reason why this place is the top Things to do in Katra is that many pilgrims like to start their trekking to Vaishno Devi Temple from the said spot.

Best time to start the journey from Himkoti: You should start the journey to Vaishno Devi temple during the day.

Spending A Day At Sulla Park

This is one of the Katra attractions, Sulla park is quite amazing if you consider its location and size. It is quite well-maintained, and you will be able to find different categories of flowers and plants over there. 

The park is near Shiv Kund, and thus you need to walk through the entire park to reach there. Most tourists visit the site during summer to enjoy the magnificent view along with the unusual weather. 

The apt time to visit Sulla park: Anytime between October to April

Charges required to visit the park: INR 500 to enter the park, and if you have any children, then the cost will be INR 350.
Opening and closing time: 11.00 AM- 4.00 PM

Have A Picnic At Jhajjar Kotli

You will be stunned to see the beauty of the place when you reach there. This is one of the places to visit in Katra kashmir which is situated at a distance of 15 km from Katra, this picnic spot is located on the bank of the river Jhajjar. 

The views are stunning, and you will be surprised to see how this place of such beauty is still hidden from the rest of India. You will have a fantastic time running away from the chaos of daily life. 

Best time to visit Jhajjar Kotli: October to April.
Opening and closing time of the spot: 8.00 AM-4.00 PM

Visiting Shiv Khori

This place is amongst those places to visit in Katra kashmir which you won’t afford to miss.

The place is located at a distance of 80 km away from Katra, Shiv Khori is a shrine that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The site is a cave that is situated between the hills. The sun rays reaching the cave’s entrance makes a magnificent and unique view that must be seen by every tourist visiting Jammu and Kashmir. 

To reach Shiv Khori: You will have to take a bus from Katra that will take you to Ransoo. From there, you will have to walk 3 km to reach the cave.

Inside the cave: The cave accommodates up to 300 people

Opening and closing time: The place is open for 24*365

 Spending A Day In Nau Devi Cave Temple

It is one of the Katra attractions which is located 10 km away from Katra, Nau Devi temple is situated at a place that is on the way to Shiv Khori. Built 200 years ago, this temple is located inside a cave. If you are looking for Places to Visit in Katra Vaishno Devi  then this place is just for you.

All the idols of different Hindu deities have been carved naturally inside the temple. It is quite rare and surprising to see a temple that is not human-made. You will not be disappointed while visiting the temple.

Caution: If you have knee pain or problem in your legs, it is better to avoid the temple as you will have to crawl a lot to get inside the cave.

Reaching Nau Devi cave temple: You can easily reach the temple by renting a car or an auto from your hotel in Katra. It will cost you around INR 500 to reach there.

Night Trekking

Many travel-enthusiasts are availing the option to reach Vaishno Devi temple by starting the trek at night. You might be confused, but do not worry. S

The primary reason behind the night-trekking idea is that most of the tourists who are not religiously inclined love to trek to Vaishno Devi temple, but during the night, the entire Katra town looks like sparkling stars in the sky. 

You cannot miss the picture, it is glorious. Trekking here is one of the best adventure sports in Katra you can enjoy. 

Shopping For Woolens

With the increasing number of tourist-visits to Katra, several shopping spots have developed to accommodate them. Some shopping centres offer woolen items like pashmina shawls, papier-mache items, Kashmiri sweaters and many more at an affordable price. 

Address of Labanya shopping centre: Jij-chowk, Kundorian, Railway Road Katra, Jammu, and Kashmir 182320.
Opening and closing times: 10.00 AM-9.00 PM.

CONCLUSION

To conclude with, Katra offers a unique mix of spiritual significance, natural beauty, and adventure. Whether you are seeking for religious devotion, embarking on thrilling treks, or simply enjoy the serene ambiance of the surroundings, Katra invites visitors to come and live the life again. 

But beyond its religious and adventurous pursuits, Katra has vibrant markets, local cuisine, and warm hospitality. You can also look for some amazing waterfalls in Kashmir for a rejuvenating experience. Whether you came seeking spiritual enlightenment, thrilling escapades, or simply a moment of respite from the chaos of everyday life. So, do plan your journey today.