The White Hotels in Vaishno Devi,Katra: December 2018

Things to try at the Best Restaurants in Katra

For people travelling to the Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra is the closest town that offer hotels for tourists to stay in as well as restaurants.Given its significance as a pilgrimage center, almost all cafes and the best restaurants in Katra serve vegetarian food.Here are some dishes you must try in Katra.

Soya Rogan Josh

Rogan Josh is a typically Kashmiri dish normally made with lamb. In Katra, you can taste a unique version of this dish made with soya.The dish features succulent soya chunks marinated in ginger garlic paste, yogurt and tandoori masalas. It is best eaten with rotis or rice.

Dal fry

Sometimes the simplest foods are the tastiest. When you have finished a trek up and down the hill, a well-cooked dal is just what you need. Cooked on a slow fire and simmered for hours, a dal fry may seem simple but is packed with flavour. This is one dish you will find in both dhabas and fine dining restaurants.

Seasonal Thalis

Though Katra may not be in Punjab, it offers a number of Punjabi delicacies as seasonal thalis. The Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki roti combination is the most popular amongst them. Made from a combination of two-three different types of greens and hearty corn bread, this dish is perfect for the winter. A smear of white butter on the roti is all you need to add as the finishing touch.

Rajma Chaval

A humble dish of Rajma-chaval is another must try at the best restaurants in Katra. Each restaurant has their own secret recipe to this dish. The two dish combination is a meal by itself and does not really need any sides. If you must have something, add on a fresh salad and some fresh yogurt.

Biryani

Biryani is one of the most popular rice dishes across India. Made with a variety of spices and vegetables, biryani recipes vary from state to state. Since non-vegetarian variants are not available in Katra, you could try the soya biryani. A fresh raita, salan, and cut salad are the perfect accompaniments to a hearty biryani.

Dosa

Katra caters to tourists from across India. Hence, the restaurants offer not only North Indian food but also a variety of dosas, idlis, and other South Indian delicacies. Choose between plain dosas and masala dosas with a side of fresh coconut chutney and sambhar. If you were to close your eyes, you might actually be transported to the South.

Fast food

From street carts to known fast food brands, you will find a range of fast foods to choose from. For tourists travelling with children, there are plenty of burgers, pizzas, rolls, and more to choose from. Even if you are a health buff, forget counting calories for a day.

Some of the best restaurants in Katra are located inside hotels. These restaurants also offer room service for their guests. So, when you book your hotel room, don’t forget to check whether or not they have a restaurant on the premises.

Things to Keep in Mind when Looking for the Best Place to Stay in Katra

Katra is the base camp for pilgrims going up to the Vaishno Devi temple. Given its proximity to the start of the pilgrimage route, many people choose to book a hotel in this quaint hill town with its amazing scenery and refreshing air. There are many different types of hotels available too, to suit different tastes and budgets. If you want to find the best place to stay in Katra, there are many things you should keep in mind. The top three amongst them are:

Facilities Available

A hotel is more than just a place to sleep. Different people need different things from their hotel. People travelling with children may need a television in their room. Elderly people may want a tea making station in their room. Similarly, businessmen may need a good Wi-Fi connection. People who are visiting Katra on the way to other places may need parking on the premises. Hence, you need to list out the facilities you need and then find a hotel that offers such facilities.

Meal Planning

For families travelling with children, the best place to stay in Katra is one with an in-house restaurant that offers room service. Some restaurants offer local dishes while others have a multi-cuisine menu. This ensures that the parents have access to food for their children at all times. Having an in-house restaurant also helps hotels offer to customize food according to a child’s needs. These hotels also generally offer complimentary breakfast for their guests. If the hotel does not have a restaurant on the premises, look for hotels with restaurants and cafes nearby. When talking of food, it is important to know that most restaurants and cafes in Katra serve pure vegetarian food.

Added Services

When families go on a holiday, budget is a major concern. Families with small children may prefer to book a single room and ask for an extra bed rather than book two separate rooms. This is not a service offered by all hotels. Hence, you must check on the availability of such services before confirming a booking.

Many hotels in Katra also offer special services for people going up to the Vaishno Devi Temple. This typically includes helping tourists with the registration process at the trek starting point. Some hotels may also offer to arrange pony rides and palanquin services for people who do not want to trek up the hill on foot. Alternatively, hotels may also arrange helicopter services to the top of the mountain.

Today, finding a hotel is quite easy. Almost all hotels have a website with details about the types of rooms available, prices, facilities etc. Alternatively, you could call the hotel directly. Some hotels also have loyalty programs of their own or have partnerships with other hotel brands. There are also a number of hotel aggregator websites that list out the different facilities provided by each hotel and help compare hotels. Many hotels also offer special packages for stay and meals. With these points in mind, it should be easy to find the best place to stay in Katra.

Finding the Perfect Vaishno Devi Hotels in Katra

Vaishno Devi is probably one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in India. Every day, about 30,000 people visit the shrine. Some people make it to the pilgrimage once in their lifetime while others visit the temple on a yearly basis. The temple stands at a height of 5,200 feet above sea level. While some people get to the temple by helicopter or pony, most choose to walk up the 12km trek.

Either way, it’s a full day affair. Thus, it is essential to find the best Vaishno Devi hotels in Katra to enjoy a comfortable stay.

Types of hotels in Katra

There are many different types of people who visit the Vaishno Devi temple each year. Thus, it isn’t surprising to note that there are many different types of hotels in Katra. These hotels cater to varying budgets and varying lifestyle needs. From budget hotels and home stays to luxury resorts, guests can take their pick of hotels. Hotels also vary in terms of facilities offered. Many hotels offer complimentary Wi-Fi and complimentary vegetarian buffet breakfast as part of their package.

Hotels for families

For most people, a Vaishno Devi pilgrimage is a family affair. Thus, there are many family friendly Vaishno Devi hotels in Katra. If you’re travelling with extended family, these hotels may offer discounted rates for multiple rooms. They may also offer special rates to install an extra bed for children in your room. When booking a room for a family, you should also look into the availability of an in-house restaurant and room-service. This is especially important for families with infants and very young children.

Finding good deals

Nobody likes to find out that someone else got a better deal than them on hotel stays. Thus, it pays to do your research well. Today, there are plenty of hotel aggregator websites that help you to compare room rates, packages and hotel types. Most hotels also have websites of their own. Unlike airfare, booking in advance does not always guarantee the best rates. However, calling the hotel directly to enquire about their packages may get you a surprise deal. When it comes to comparing deals, packages that include at least one meal are often the most economical. Many hotels include breakfast in their packages. If you’re travelling as a part of a group you may get additional discounts.

Lastly, when you look for Vaishno Devi hotels in Katra, do not forget to check the hotel’s location. If you’re travelling to Katra for the sole purpose of visiting the Vaishno Devi temple, it would be a good idea to look hotels near the registration point. However, if you plan on staying for a while and explore other places, you may want to look at hotels that are more centrally located. On the other hand, if you’re staying for a few days but want a break from the city chaos, you may be more interested in hotels on the outskirts of the town. These hotels offer a quiet seclusion that’s ideal for a relaxed holiday.

Things to Know Before you Book a Hotel in Vaishno Devi

The little district of Reasi sees some of highest number of visitors as any other districts in Jammu. This can be attributed to the town of Katra, home to the shrine of Vaishno Devi, which attracted followers from all over the world.

Also known as Trikuta or Vaishnavi, the goddess deity of the Vaishno Devi temple brings to the town devotees of all ages. The temple is located at a 12 kilometre trek from Katra. Since the town is a popular pilgrim spot and also a developing tourist spot, it makes sense to book a hotel in Vaishno Devi well in advance.

If you are visiting Vaishno Devi for the first time, here is some tips and information that can help you have a great time in Katra.

• The best time to visit Katra is in the months between March and October owing to the favourable weather conditions. The peak season of pilgrims in the town is during the festival of Navratri. If you plan on making a trip during this peak time, make sure to book a hotel in Vaishno Devi well in advance to ensure you do not lose out on living in your preferred hotel.

• Vaishno Devi temple is located in the foothills of the Trikuta range. The hilly location of the town can make the weather really chilly during the winters, so make sure you carry ample warm clothes with you.

• For those devotees who cannot make a trip to the main Bhawan of Vaishno Devi by foot or do not have the time to do so, there are alternatives as well. One of them is an affordable helicopter service between Katra and the Sanjichatt Helipad. The helipad is at a short walking distance from the temple. Senior citizens or those with special needs can opt for reaching the temple on ponies. Another alternative is reaching the temple on Palkis which is ideal for those who are unable to walk the distance but want to enjoy the journey up. When you book a hotel in Vaishno Devi, make sure it is at a close distance from the temple to make it more convenient.

• There are plenty of pocket friendly hotels in Katra, make sure you opt for one with the best of facilities and more importantly is not far away from the starting point of the trek to Vaishno Devi temple.

• Make sure you collect the ‘Visit Slip’ or ‘Parchi’ that is required to visit the temple. This can be booked online or collected physically when it is distributed at 6:00 am in the morning. Speak to your hotel desk to know more about where you can get this slip.

When you book a hotel in Vaishno Devi, make sure you ask if all the features that are necessary to you are in order. For example, if you are travelling with senior citizens who can’t climb steps, ensure that the hotel has rooms on the ground floor or a lift.

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