require help on jammu-katra

folks,

ive planned a trip to Vaishno devi and then to Dalhousie and Dharamsala.

I need help on the following:

(1) When i get off at Jammu Railway Station - evening around 6, what is the frist thing i should do ? i mean how do i get to katra ?

(2) Upon reaching Katra, where do i get decent accomodation at economical rates ? Bargains ? 24 hour check in /out since we ll be climbing up the next morning

(3) How do i then proceed to Dalhouise from there which is about 100 kms away ?

Would highly appreciate any help on this !

Cheers
Vij

(3) You have to get back to Jammu and take a train to Pathankot/Chakki Bank(110kms.). From Pathankot take a bus/taxi to Dalhousie, which is 80kms. away.

If you have the time, I suggest you first visit Chamba from Pathankot(120 kms.) and then make your way to Dalhousie via Khajjiar.

no i dont wan tto do that route ! i d prefere a bus from jammu to dalhousie straight ! is that possible ?

(1) When you get off at Jammu, just walk with the crowd (everyone is there to go to Katra) towards the bus stand at the back of the station. You can either take a bus or book a taxi to Katra. The bus ride is pretty cheap but you'll have queue up to book your tickets and wait a few minutes for your bus to arrive. So if you're taking a bus, look for the ticket counter.

(2) The cheapest accomodation in Katra are the dharamshalas that cost nothing but I won't recommend them as they're dirty and crowded. They also ask you to buy your prasad etc from them (to extort the money you save in rent). You'll find very good hotels in Katra right where your get off by bus in the range of Rs1000. And decent, clean hotels in Rs. 500-750 range. We stayed at a guest house [on the road that you take from Katra to Vaishno Devi] that was even cheaper but I can't remember the name now.

The route will still be the same - via Pathankot; unless you want to travel to Udhampur and then go to Dalhousie from there, without touching Ptk.

I'm not aware of a direct bus from Udhampur to Dalhousie.

hey thanks for that info/...now a bit more...so if i check into a hotel late evening (at under 1000 rupees ), and were to climb up the next morning and return (in all probablities) the morning after that...would he charge me appropriately ? i mean for 36 hours or so ?
(2) i ve seen some buses from jammu to pathankot - are there aa lot of options i mean private buses etc cos i dont have advance bookings
(3) once im in pathankot, where do i go to take another bus to dalhousie ?
(4) are there direct buses from dalhousie to dharamsala/mcleodgang - the hrtc.nic site does say yes...are there private operators too ?

Thanks in advance !

You get buses to Dalhousie from the main bus stand at Pathankot. There is a direct bus from Dalhousie to D'sala. The state Govt. runs these, I'm not aware of private operators plying this route.

Hi everyone, I have been a closet IMer for quite sometime. A great thanks to the members for your contributions. You make hanging around here way too addictive!

vij4all, I will be following almost the exact itinerary. In case you are already there and back, any feedback on private buses between Vaishno Devi - Pathankot - Dalhousie - Dharamshala.
Some idea of the travel time among the above? How long does it take from Katra to Pathankot? is it a comfortable ride in the state buses? or have to hire a cab

Spaceman, im getting married in may and i ll start my journey after that...i did a lot of research to plan this iternary and i have come up with the following:

Jammu to Katra (for Vaishnodevi) is about 2- 3 hours by bus (approx 50 kms) plenty of buses available

PAthankot to Jammy is about 100 kms approx and should talk around 3.5 hours..lots of trains too on this sector

I plan to take another bus from pathankot to dalhousie (approx 100 ksm) and about 3 to 4 hours

there is a direct bus from dalhousie to dharamsala..im not sure if ts gonna touch pathankot on the way again...that journey shoudl take around 5 - 6 hours


when are u likely to go ? solo or group?

Cheers
Vij

Pathankot is South-West of Dalhousie, whereas Dharamsala is South-East. Hence, the direct bus does not touch Pathankot. The route is via Lahru, Sihunta and Shahpur.

Jammu Train info:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050701/main8.htm

hi.
i m new to this forum.
its very useful.
is there any direct transportation bet katra to delhousie?

Hello fellow traveler,

On reaching Railway station, I would advice you to take a prepaid taxi (900/- to 1800/- based on size and ac cab) or a SRTC Bus to Katra. A good clean decent hotel room per night will cost you 1500/- (double occupancy) to 2500/- ( I would recommend Hotel Krishna, Hotel AJ International, Hotel Durga or Hotel Prakash. If you search for "Hotel xyz Katra" on google for above hotels you would get their websites I guess (Replacing xyz with Krishna or AJInternational or Durga or Prakash).

Having come to Jammu/Katra, I would recommend that instead of going to Dhranshala which is 250 km from Katra, you should go to Patnitop, Sanasar, Nathatop trip. Patnitop is just 1.5 hrs drive from katra and is a better hill station then Dharamshala. Sanasar is 19 kms from Patnitop and Nathatop is inbetween with a little detour.

You can book a hut inside the Patnitop hill resort. That would be a great experience.

hope you enjoy your trip to Jammu katra and patnitop.

4 yr old thread.