A beautiful Hill Station at Shiwalik Himalaya: Patnitop, Jammu.

We started from Katra by 11 am after having breakfast for Patnitop. The drive was scenic. After a short lunch break at Kud I reached Patnitop in about 3 hours.Patnitop is a beautiful picturesque spot surrounded by beautiful mountains & Dedor trees. Enveloped with thick wooded forests, it offers peaceful walks.

Way to patnitop we visited Nag Temple. As soon as we get out the car, all the shopkeepers gathered and started selling their items. They said, you won't have to buy, but just visit their shop. By not listening their words, I walked few step down the stairs to make visit to the Nag Temple.The marble flooring of the temple is freezing cold. After visiting the temple and splendid view of the mountain from the temple, we went back to the car.

Then after we went two of the park of the Patnitop which is too good to view. Dense woods with some secluded picnic spots surround the lush green meadows.

The spot got its name from Patan da Talab meaning Pond of Princess.It’s a thorough green patch on a hill top with beautiful consortium.

Without wasting another minute we checked-in to the hotel. Night was too cold. After a heavy dinner, we walked around our hotel.

Waiting for dinner, Patnitop.

Waking up early, we saw some sunlight and it is amazing view to enjoy the heat of sun.

We were not go for Natuatop, as our driver said, the place is nothing at this time. So after taking a cup of tea, we went for Jammu. Soon we stopped for Breakfast and small photo session. 

When we reached at Jammu, it was afternoon. So our main destination was Raghunath Temple, with seven shrines each with its own Sikhara, is one of the largest temple complexes of north India, and is located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.In surrounding there were small temples of different gods and goddess. It was awesome to look crystal stone of Shiv Linga.

After visiting and shopping around the temple, we went to Jammu railway station.

Walking Yatra to Bhawan, Vaisnodevi Temple.

November, 2012:

We were too excited for this family trip.We have started our journey from Howrah, we took train from Howrah to Delhi and then Delhi to Jammu. Our train arrived at 9:30AM at Jammu Tawi station. We hired a prepaid Taxi from Jammu railway station to Karta. 

And hills started after few kilometers. It was sunny, a beautiful road and scenery around. There was cavalcade of Army trucks that we overtook.The driver pointed out that there it is Trikuta hills, where the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi is situated. Soon we stopped for tea break. We had Aloo Paratha, Chana Masala.

We booked Trikuta Bhawan at Katra. After that, we got Yatra Registration Slip for Yatra. Yatra Registration is carried out at the Yatri Registration Centre (YRC) near the Bus Stand Katra. 

After taking Yatra Parchi, we took a auto for Banganga.

We started from the base of the Trikuta Mountain and this entry point is known as Darshani Darwaza (meaning gate) at 11:30P.M.

We got one bottle of mineral water and nothing else. There were stairs where number of stairs were written with warning that people with high BP and heart ailments should not take those stairs. We fell into the temptation of stairs in order to reach faster. But we were tired after follow 90 stairs and then decided not to take stairs.

Night was too cold and windy.Dipu dabought some JAI MATA DI written ribons to tie on foreheads. Katra town was looking like a galaxy of stars from that distance.

There are two way from Ardh-kwari to main Bhawan via Himkoti and via Sanjhi Chhat. We took Himkoti.

 And then, we took pace swiftly that ended with reaching Bhavan. When we were in the very very long queue of the entrance of bhawan, darsan door was closed due to prayer or aarti.

 

We stood for 3 hours in locker queue. When standing in queue it was very cold and sun rises in the sky. After 3 hours queue moved a bit, we got into the next queue of darshan, and we had darshan in another hour.

After darsan we had Poori in shop just outside temple and then started climbing for Bhairon baba, another 2 kms steep uphill from Bhavan. Bhairon baba darhsan were easy and view of Bhawan from there is nice.

We started coming down around 12A.M. On our way back to down, we enjoyed a lot, as it was taking less effort to coming down on slopes, we just had to maintain the balance of our body, and rest of the work was being done by the gravity. We had some monkeys, goat and some beautiful birds on our way.

Airbase is there at Sanjhi-Chhat,for those Devotees who come in choppers.

About 1 PM (I think), we reached back at Ardh kwari. But we skipped to visit there. The best part of Journey is that you will enjoy the holy environment, Scenic view, Food.