✪ Vaishno Devi ✪

Day started very early, I wake up about 2.30 am and leave at about 3.00 am. Took bread butter & tea nearby, kept one liter of water bottle & some glucose tab with me. Its about 2 kms to reach Banganga gate. its took me half an hour to reach there. at about 4 o’clock I’m reach at Banganga gate and suddenly its started heavy rain with full of gust, its continues for about half an hour. I sheltered there, then after rain slowdown I decided to start a trek. In front of me there are check post for screening luggage and all, I went swiftly because I don’t have any thing. After walk for a while there is Yatra slip check post. All pilgrims without exception are required to register themselves before undertaking the Yatra, which slip are checked at here. I don’t want to miss the chance of Yatra, if there is rush. so I had pre registered for Yatra slip from internet as safe side. because, limited numbers of Yatri allowed per day. I showed mine and move. its still drizzling & continued about another half an hour. The darkness was not opened yet. I bought one use n throw raincoat from adjacent shop, wore and continued on trek.

I am walking in moderate speed, sipping water time to time & pee breaks. Track was low crowded, weather was good. I’m enjoying trek. Sometimes chanting & singing. At about 7 am. I’m at Adhkuwari. where both the tracks are met, new and old one. Had some snacks there and proceed towards new track from Himkoti. I had tried both the track on my trek, for ascending took new track and for descending took old track. New track is good compared to old. As day was up rain was fully stop now, that raincoat was unbearable now. because, I had three layers of cloths inside. so remove and trashed it. as I’m gaining altitude, getting some wide view of Katra and nearby which luring my eyes. curves of Chenab are dominating at backdrop. I didn’t carry cameras on trek, so capturing some of landscape with my mobile Sony xperia M.

As nearing Bhavan; old track, Sanjhicchat helipad was seen from here. at about 10.30 am. I’m at Bhavan. Deposited Mobile, Wallet, Belt, Shoes at locker. bought offering for Mata and went quickly in main darshan Q. Its took about 40 min to get darshan. The main cave is narrow, chilled water seeping through walls and flowing on floor. I bow down there, took blessing from Mata and leave. bought some prasad nearby for home and started towards Bhairon temple. I read somewhere that without Bhairon darshion, Vashnao devi yatra is incomplete. so without wasting time I’m move toward track. The track toward Bhairon temple from Bhavan is most steepest & tiring in whole trek. Some how I crossed the stretch & reach at temple in half an hour. Took blessing there. Now front of the temple there is Bhojnalay, so I went there for lunch. Took lunch & some rest there, then started for return journey.

I decided to descend through old track. which is steep compared to new one but for descending it was faster track because of steepness but exhausting. Now track was little crowded, frequently pony, palkhi was seen. On new track I didn’t seen any pony or palkhi, its might be not allowed there. Its boring part of trek just walking to nearing ground as early I can. An about three and half hour of trek, I’m nearing Banganga gate. now only two kms to reach dormitory but those two kms are unbearable now. I am totally exhausted & impatience. now my legs & body was aching badly.

Its about 4 pm. I took cloth and toiletries from reception on the way for refreshing. I went in dorm, nobody is there. I thought that I will rest for 5 minutes and then refresh. I fall on bed and don’t know when I am fall a sleep. doze up to 5.30 am next day, didn’t even woke up for dinner.

That’s all folks…..