| Katra | |
| — town — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District(s) | Udhampur |
| Population | 7,569 (2001[update]) |
| Literacy | 70 %% |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 754 metres (2,474 ft) |
Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Jammu and Kashmir, India, situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located. It is part of the Reasi District and is located 42 km from the city of Jammu.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, one of the leading technical university of India is also located here.
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Katra is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 754 metres (2,474 feet). There also been reports of possible oil reserves in the area[2]
As of 2001[update] India census,[3] Katra had a population of 7569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Katra has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 65%. In Katra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Katra serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno Devi. It has a thriving tourism industry that offers plenty of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, fast-food joints that fit all kinds of budgets. Free accommodation is provided by some registered trusts in the form of Sarais for the poor. The number of pilgrims that visit the shrine every year has increased from 1.4 million in 1986 to 8.2 million in 2009. Over the years, a lot has changed, but one should not miss the opportunity to walk through the main bazaar (market) for buying (do not forget/hesitate to negotiate a bit) souvenirs, dryfruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc.
To reach Vaishno Devi temple the pilgrims have to register at the Katra before starting the trek. By registering, the pilgrims get accidental insurance while on the trek for 1 lakh INR. It is a trek of 13.5 km.
There is another trek (1.5 km) from Vaishno Devi temple for Baba Bhaironnath. It is said that the pilgrimage is not complete until you visit this temple at last. The scenery throughout the trek is pictursque.
Environment-friendly auto rickshaws and helicopter services also have started now-a-days to make the journey a pleasant one.
There has been rise in cases of cheating with the shop-keepers claiming the shop to be government endorsed.If confronted with any such shop-keeper, ask for proof or confirm the same with tourism department office near yatra slip counter at bus stand katra.
Also be care-ful not to entertain the beggars.Begging is turning out to be a big time business in Katra where people shove their kids into begging who earn around 200-300 INR per day while the parents enjoy the earnings. keep light woolens handy in summer and heavy woolens would be required in winters(november-february) Be-ware of taxi drivers and agents who take you to hotels or lodges of their own choice.Those lodges are usually in far flung areas and more expensive.Try to get a lodge near bus-stand where every place in easily accesible.