10 Best Places to Visit Near Katra

Situated in Katra, Trikuta Hills is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site. It is regarded as the most significant Shaktipeeth. In the Cave, a five-and-a-half-foot-tall, three-headed rock stands as the deity statue. Worshippers send the Goddess the chunri, red cloth, sarees, silver or gold jewellery, Cholas, flowers, etc. The temple is open all year, but it is best to visit from March to October. During the Navratri festival, devotees flock here in huge numbers.

The Bhairon Temple in Katra is 3 km from the cave of Mata Vaishno Devi. Travellers visit this site as their subsequent stop after the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. People travel to Bhairon Mandir since the sacred voyage to Mata Vaishno Devi is regarded as complete only when the devotees visit this place. The temple is situated at a height of 2017 meters on the Trikuta hill. Attractions, such as a havan kund, are prominent here.

This temple is essentially connected with Hindu pilgrimage traditions. It is part of a shrine cluster in Katra, Jammu, and Kashmir. Located in the Trikuta Mountains, the temple is devoted to 9 forms of the goddess Durga and is an important stop for devotees on their way to the Vaishno Devi Temple. This temple became an important part of the divine journey. It is supposed that the goddesses bless the pilgrims as they embark on their trek towards Vaishno Devi.

The Bagh-e-bahu is a beautiful garden. Its extensive lawns, grand fountains, delightful stone sculptures, a beautiful lake, and a large aquarium make it even more beautiful. Tourists experience the serenity and the romantic vibe presented by this place. This terraced garden has multiple fountains. These add to the place's ambience, particularly at night when they light up. The largest underground aquarium in India has freshwater and marine fish and more than 400 species.

It is one of the oldest temples in Jammu and is considered the largest temple of Shiva in North India. The largest Shivlinga in India is here, leaving spectators awestruck. This 200-year-old temple was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of the Dogra dynasty in the classic Nagara style. It stands at the centre of a vast brick-covered double-storey platform on the first floor, providing exceptional panoramic views of the surroundings.
 

This place is a heaven for adventurists, offering rock climbing, paragliding, abseiling, and trekking. It is built in a paddock enclosed by gigantic conifers. Sanasar is infused with adventure and excitement. The area could offer an ideal extension to your trip to Jammu and Kashmir, and its host of activities will tease your excitement. 

Shivkhori is located in Udhampur. This self-manifested lingam of Shiva is known as Swayambhu and is important in Hinduism. This charming destination is famous for its religious beliefs. The route inside the cave is challenging, but it is worth experiencing at least once.
The journey to the shrine requires trekking over 3 km through mountains with lush greenery. The cave has naturally formed impressions that look like Lord Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Nandi, Kartikeya, and Sheshnag. The vibe of the cave will mesmerize you, indeed.

Mahamaya Temple is a construction with a backstory. It was built to honour Mahamaya, a freedom fighter of the Dogra community who sacrificed her life about 1400 years ago to save her region from invaders. This temple compliments the bravery of Indian women, which is frequently overlooked. The shrine has ancient idols of the brave warrior. The tranquil vibe of the site helps visitors obtain an authentic experience of the serenity that this mountain city of Katra has to provide.
 

This 300-year-old Gurudwara is a key pilgrimage point for Sikhs. It is famous for housing the ashes of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the commander of Guru Gobind Singh's army. The Gurudwara also has his arrow and a giant sword, which he used throughout wars. One of the significant spiritual centres in Kashmir, the Gurudwara attracts many pilgrims, particularly during the 3-day Vaisakhi mela. The Gurudwara's construction is spectacular, and the inner walls glow golden. 

This is the shrine of Baba Jitoo, located about 8 kilometres from Katra. Baba Agar Jitoo is said to have been a peasant who fought against the feudal order in olden times. He was also a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi. Pleased by his devotion, Goddess Vaishno granted him a girl who lived with him as his daughter. 
Some statues depict the life and divinity of his daughter. Baba Agar created the water source in front of the temple to decrease his village's water crisis. This water spring is considered miraculous. In June, a fair will also be held here as a tribute to Baba Agar Jitoo.