I went to Vaishnodevi four days after I got married in February 2003. I travelled with my whole family, (10 people), from Mumbai to Jammu by train.
We boarded the train from Mumbai Central Station at 6am and arrived in Jammu the next day at midnight. We travelled in the bunking section of the train which had its own cabins. Four people in each cabin can sleep comfortably.
When we disembarked from the train at midnight, it was cold, there were many rikshaws and small mini-vans which would take you to the main city area of Katra village.
We took a small mini-van to Katra village where we found a hotel to just freshen-up. After we off-loaded our luggage and became fresh, we went to eat a light snack. Some chose the indian delicacies, for example dosas, idlis, pavbhaji ( ie mixed vege and buns) plus much more. Where half of us chose veg burgers, french fries, sandwiches and more. Luckily enough all these tiny restaurants operated 24 hours and the food was really tasty and very affordable. Although we did carry our own mineral water!
After we ate, we went back to the hotel to sleep for a one or two hours. At 3am we woke up, bathed and dressed warmly. At 3:30am we took a ten minute walk to the gates of Vaishnodevi Temple. The gates were already open. At the entrance gate there were many hawkers selling walking sticks to help you walk up the winding mountain. Also there were horses that can carry you up and down the mountain.
At about 3:45am we started climbing the winding Vaishnodevi mountain. The whole path was lit up with sodium vapour lamps during the night and the path is now made as a road, it is not a dirt-road any more. Thank goodness, now it is much easier! The climb is about 13km!
While you are climbing you can take in the deep crispy clear air, absorb the breath-taking scenery, and forget all the pollution that surrounds you in the city of Mumbai!
My husband and I climbed together till we reached the midway temple, called the Bhairav Temple, where we crawled into the temple and received our blessings. We then crawled back out and hired horses to climb to the top of the mountain.
My husband and I were on one horse because we were not very heavy for the horse. The others each took one horse for themselves. When we reached the icy part of the mountain, it was very slippery and freezing cold, it must have been minus 2 degrees! My husband had to get off the horse, so that it was not to difficult for the horse to climb. The horses were not very expensive to hire, although I did tend to feel sorry for them, because they have to climb up and down for so many people.
There were many others who were on horses, as well as walking, chanting the words Jai Mata Di all the way. Tightly wrapped in their warm clothes.
We were very lucky that we reached the top at 6am before they shut the temple doors. Once we were inside, we had to remove our shoes, socks, and anything leather.
By this time, we had red noses, frost bites and just waiting patiently bear foot in the long line of people who also want to do their prayers to Vaishnodevi Mata.
My husband was pushed into the mens line and I into the womens line, but the amazing thing is that when we reached the front of the line, every new couple in the whole line were always together!
I was afraid that my husband would not be with me, but we both did our prayers together at the beginning of the line.
When a newly married couple do their prayers together to one of the most powerful gods, they will live happily ever after and their wishes and dreams will come true, whatever may happen in the future! Till day we haven’t had any serious arguments and now we have a one year old little boy.
After we did our prayers we took the horse ride back down. this time I was on my own horse, and my husband on his. We reached the bottom of Vaishnodevi gates at 8am that day!
The legend says that for whatever you wish for, within a couple of months you will be rewarded with it. I have seen this happen with my own eyes, for a couple who’s wife had two miscarriages and then before she became pregnant again, she went to Vaishnodevi temple and asked to not have a miscarriage again and bring a healthy baby into this world. Today she has a healthy daughter who is five years old!
From there we travelled to Patnitop!