The Hindu : National : Vaishno Devi pilgrims still prefer the road route

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 29, 2005

National

National

Vaishno Devi pilgrims still prefer the road route

Staff Reporter

Udhampur station is more than 40 minutes away from Katra town, base camp for the shrine

UDHAMPUR: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1 A continues to be the most popular route for Vaishno Devi pilgrims reaching here, even after the inauguration of the Jammu-Udhampur railway line. Tourists, too, prefer to take the road for logistical reasons.

The 55-km railway line was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 13. The ceremony was attended by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The railway route was expected to become the lifeline for over six million pilgrims thronging Katra in Udhampur district every year. But even after a month since the district appeared on the railway map, it has failed to catch the imagination of the pilgrims.

Two factors — terrain and logistics — are responsible.

The Udhampur railway station is more than 40 minutes away from Katra town, base camp of the Vaishno Devi Shrine, the time taken by pilgrims to reach Katra by the National Highway after disembarking at the Jammu railway station.

The Jammu station has better tourist infrastructure. There are private buses and taxis that operate through out the day to Katra.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National