Katra is a small town in the foothills of the Trikuta mountains and is in the Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is in the vicinity of Mata Vaishno Devi temple. It is a prominent religious destination in Jammu and is the base camp for the pilgrims who come to pay homage to the Vaishno Mata temple. Apart from places like- Charan Paduka, Bhairo Mandir and Geeta Mandir, Katra do offers its visitors some more exotic places like- Ban Ganga, Trikuta Parvat, Himkoti, Jhajjar Kotli that are truly worth visiting. Adventure seekers can indulge in White water river rafting in Chenab river here in the months- May, June, November and December which is itself a thrilling and exciting experience.
Katra has some famous festivals that are celebrated with great enthusiasm, that are- Navratri- the culture of this splendid place can be seen during this particular festival. It witnesses several people from Jammu and other parts that come to these places to celebrate Navratra. Another important festival in Katra is the Baisakhi that is celebrated in April every year. This festival is celebrated due to the beginning of the crop season in North India. There are some other festivals too that are celebrated with great pomp and show in this astounding Katra.
The main food of Katra is typically North Indian and vegetarian as it is a holy place. One can enjoy having Rajma chawal, parathas, Bengan ka Bharta, Aloo ke Paranthe and some other delicacies that will surely make you ask for some more. The warm hospitality of people of Katra, the pilgrimage sites and the serene places and salubrious nature makes Katra one of the ideal destinations to visit.
