Glory to the true court! Every devotee has a desire to have darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. Every year thousands of devotees from Gujarat also reach Katra in Jammu for the darshan of Mata. Whenever we plan a long trip, the first thing that comes to mind is budget. Many times, due to lack of correct information, the journey to Vaishno Devi becomes more expensive than expected.
Although train travel is considered the most comfortable and economical compared to flight or private taxi, but if it is not planned properly, it can have a huge impact on the pocket. If you also want to attend Mata’s door this time at very low cost, then this article is for you. Let us know how to plan a perfect budget trip to Vaishno Devi from Gujarat.
First of all decide the scope of your expenses (Budget Estimation)
To cover the Vaishno Devi Yatra within the budget, the most important thing is to make a practical budget. if your goal ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 If you want to complete the journey within 25 days, then you will have to keep track of every small and big expense from the time you leave home till the time you return.
An approximate budget plan can be understood from the table given below:
| type of expense | Estimated cost per person/two people | way to save budget |
| Train ticket (round trip) | ₹1,200 – ₹1,500 (per person) | Make advance booking in Sleeper Class. |
| local transport | ₹500 – ₹1,000 | Use an auto or sharing cab from home to the station. |
| Hotel/Stay (1 Night) | ₹1,500 – ₹2,000 (for two) | Get a budget room near Katra station or in Niharika Complex. |
| food expenses | ₹1,000 (per day, for two) | Carry food from home for the train and take advantage of langar on the climb. |
| cost of climbing | Zero (₹0) | Travel on foot instead of palanquin or mule. |
Follow the Friday Night Formula
Start your journey by catching the train on Friday night. The advantage of this will be that you will reach Katra on Saturday and can start your trek on the same day. This wisdom of time will save you extra expense of hotel stay.
Exercise some control over purchasing toys, souvenirs or other non-essential items found along the way during the climb. Concentrate all your energy and attention in enjoying the darshan and journey of Mata.
3 surefire and magical tips to save budget
-
Take home cooked food with you: During long train journeys, eating food from outside or from the pantry is not only expensive but is also not good for health. Get some dry food (like thepla, puri-sabzi, khakhra) packed from home which does not spoil for 2 days. This will easily save a huge expense on food.
-
Say no to the mule and the palanquin: If you use a mule, palanquin or pithu to climb from Katra to Bhawan, the one-time expense comes to ₹ 1,500 to ₹ 2,000. If you are physically completely healthy, then climb on foot. The joy of walking while taking the name of Mother is something else.
-
Trying to finish the journey in 1 day: After reaching Katra, try to start the climb on the same day and come down after having darshan by the next morning. By doing this you will not have to book a hotel room in Katra for 2-3 days, which will directly save you up to ₹3,000.
Free facilities and very cheap food options (like Sagar Ratna or Board’s restaurants) are provided by the Shrine Board at every step of the Vaishno Devi journey. You just need a little planning from your side and control over expenses. In this way, you can visit Mata Rani without any hassle and return back to Gujarat safely at very little money.
-
The kitchen foil will run away from the thief! Try this magic trick on door handles today
-
What is the solution in Hindu scriptures to save marriage during divorce? Know
-
1 June Rashifal: Who will have fights in their married life, who should control their tongue, read the horoscope
-
Which Mango To Choose For Homemade Ice Cream
-
Despite having an expensive smartphone, not taking great photos? These small mistakes are spoiling the quality of photos
