Jammu-Katra - Vaishnodevi

mesh44

Hi All,

I'm planning a trip for 6 adults to Vaishnodevi in a couple of days. I need some advice please.

o Approx how much should I pay for a taxi from Jammu airport to Katra? I will arriving in Katra at 3pm ish. Does Jammu have pre-paid taxis from the airport? Is this the best option?

O Can you recommend some comfortable accommodation in Katra? What rates (for 6) should I pay? Every time I negotiate rates at a hotel I am always given the "western" rate

o From Adhkunwari point, I have been told that there is now a new taxi service to the top is this true? I have some elderly folk with me that may struggle to walk all the way.

Many thanks.
Mesh

karnail

Yes Taxi service is there during day time only an you will get a no. of options at 100-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-1000/-. For avoid bargaining try the Shrine board rest house and have a look at the rooms and rates and at any private hotel bargain accordingly.

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vir

Outside of Jammu airport there are lots of taxis (prepaid is available too). I am not very sure but we paid Rs 1000 in March 2007. We found other couple at the airport who asked us if wanted to share the ride. So we were 4 people in the taxi (old ambassador car). I think for 6 people you might need two taxis.

We stayed in Hotel the Vaishnodevi for first day. Bad experience. There was some construction going on. We changed the first room as it was quite suffocating and smelling. Second room was OK but it was little dirty. Like when you sit on Sofa chair you can see dust coming out of it. I think we paid Rs. 1200.
We stayed there as somebody recommended us before that its a good hotel and film stars stay there There were pictures of few film stars with the owner in the lobby too. I am not sure if they really stayed there. Lobby obviously was much better in comparision to rooms.

Next day we stayed in Hotel Surya Palace. It was much better in comparision to Hotel the Vaishnodevi. Better room, cleaner bed sheets. Rs 700 (I think)

I think the problem is both the hotels have carpet flooring in the rooms. They just don't know how to keep it clean and dust free. You know how it feels when you lay down on bed and you can smell dust on blanket too.

I think if they can have stone flooring it will be easier to clean too. They need more windows for less suffocation.

I 'hear' that hotel "Hotel Country Inn & Suites" is good. Its little out of Katra city but I guess they have shuttles to the base where you start the yatra.

When I was there they had a very good helicopter service option where you can fly from Jammu airport directly to top near vaishnodevi temple. In this way you can take morning flight to Jammu and back by evening flight.

shashank.aggarwal

The best bet is to take a room in the Shrine board complex, they have good clean accommodation available, and since you are six, you can go for dormitory as well. Use google for Vaishno Devi shrine board, check their site and I guess you can book the accommodation in advance as well. You can get rooms booked at katra, Adhkuwari and Bhawan as well, they work on no profit no loss basis.

My Grandmom visited the hrine last month and she used a 'palki' from Gad ganga to Adhkuwari. The rates are fixed and there is not much scope for being fleeced by the palki carriers.

Once you reach Ardhkuwai you can use the Electricity operated vehicles, however only people over a certain age and disabilities can use that service.

I would suggest going through the shrive board site, they would have all the relevant info for you.

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mesh44

Thanks for the info.

I'm off to the airport in two hours (flight already delayed!) and maybe catch up with you in Delhi.

I'm getting all excited now