Vaishno Devi is a popular pilgrimage destination in India. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit this shrine. The temple itself is situated in a cave on the mountainside. Thus, it is not possible to stay at Vaishno Devi itself. Instead, the closest town that offers accommodation in the town of Katra. Given that Vaishno Devi attracts pilgrims from across the world and across social classes, there are a number of different types of hotels in Vaishno Devi.
5-star Luxury Hotels
If you want to enjoy a luxurious stay, there are a number of hotels in Katra that will offer you the comfort you seek. 5-star hotels set themselves apart by their service and the type of facilities they offer. In Katra, 5-star hotels will offer a pick and drop facility not only from the Katra railways station or but stop but also from Jammu. Many of these hotels have restaurants and cafes on the premises and will offer room service. They may also have additional facilities such as a gym, dry cleaning, and even a swimming pool.
3-4 star Family Hotels
When you’re traveling with your family, you need a certain level of comfort and security. In such cases, 3 and 4-star hotels offer you the facilities you need at a more affordable price. These hotels can be described as fuss-free and functional. They may not have a dry cleaning facility but may offer a laundry service. Restaurants are not always a part of such hotels. In cases where the hotel has a restaurant, room service is rarely seen. What these hotels do offer is neat and clean rooms with attached bathrooms and running hot and cold water. Other amenities such as televisions, bar fridges, tea stations, etc. vary from hotel to hotel.
Budget Hotels
Many people who travel to Vaishno Devi as a group, look for budget hotels. Budget hotels cater to solo travelers, couples, families and large groups. These hotels in Vaishno Devi are simple and comfortable with none of the frills associated with luxury accommodation. These hotels have basic services but can help arrange local transportation and porters for your visit to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
Home Stays
Not everyone wants to stay in a hotel. Today, tourists have the choice of staying at home stays. A home stay is when someone opens up their home for guests. Guests will usually share the house with the owners. This is ideal for families with young infants since the guests have access to the kitchen in the house. Home stays offer all the comforts of staying at home with a little extra service.
Free Accommodation
If you’re traveling on a shoestring budget, you may want to consider the free accommodation offered by the Vaishno Devi shrine board. This accommodation is best suited to men traveling alone. This accommodation is offered in the form of large dorms with no partitions and a common bathroom. These dormitories can sleep up to 700 people and are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. For the convenience of guests, a bhojanalaya, medical aid center, and the blanket store are set up neat the accommodation.
If you’re looking for hotels in Vaishno Devi, you should ideally confirm your bookings well in advance. This helps you get the best deals and ensures you get a room of your choice. If you’re traveling as a group, this becomes even more important. Ideally, you should confirm bookings at least a month in advance. To get the best deals, you can check hotel booking websites as well as individual hotel websites.