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Katra |
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Katra or Katra Vaishno Devi, as it is popularly known, is a small town in Jammu and Kashmir, India, situated in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains, where the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is located. It is part of the Udhampur District and is located 42 km from the city of Jammu.Everyday of the year throngs of people surge up the steep pathways that cut across the Trikuta hillsides for mile after mile.This show of faith is finely interwoven with the cultural strands of the Indian subcontinent, and these pathways have been trod on for many centuries now. Popular belief holds that anybody who walks the Himalayan trail to the goddesses's abode to ask for a boon rarely goes back disappointed. Whatever be it, a new enterprise or a forthcoming examination, marriage or birth, the devout look up to the Mata for blessings and guidance. There are many who journey year after year to pay obeisance regardless of their faith or belief, creed or class, caste or religion.The Yatra to the holy shrine is as fascinating as the legend associated with it. It goes that thousands of years ago, a comely maiden called "Vaishnavi" have been created by the three lords attained human form and was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Having taken a vow of celibacy, she spent almost all her life in meditation and prayers. In time she attained enormous spiritual powers and is believed to have extracted an assurance from Lord Rama that he will marry her in Kali-Yug if she persisted in her spiritual quest.       Katra serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno Devi.The town has a complete new look and instead of the kachcha houses, dingy shops, a mean-looking narrow Bazar with dirt littered every here and there, now one can see pucca brick buildings, inviting and flourishing shops and other commercial establishments doing brisk business. A well-located and beautifully laid-out garden with cascading water adds to the comforts provided by the town. There are a few attractive green hill spots near about Katra.It has a mild temperate climate, which makes it a suitable summer resort also. It has a thriving tourism industry that offers plenty of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, dhabas, fast-food joints that fit all kinds of budgets. Free accommodation is provided by some registered trusts in the form of Sarais for the poor.One should not miss the opportunity to walk through the main bazaar or market for buying ouvenirs, dryfruits, woolen garments, hosiery, leather jackets, etc   
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History of Katra city
As with several other temples and shrines of ancient India, there’s a paucity of recorded history of the Vaishnodevi shrine. However a geological study of the holy cave which houses the temple has revealed the age of its formations to be over a million years. The oldest recorded reference to the temple is of Guru Gobind Singh’s visit to the shrine in the 16th century. Currently the shrine is governed and administered by a specially constituted board which has vastly upgraded the facilities available to pilgrims. The provision of resting points, cafeterias, clean and hygienic toilets along the 12.5 km trek route draws legions of pilgrims every year, with the number of visitors having increased from 1.4 million in 1985-86 to 6.5 million in 2004-05.    Legend is that several millenniums ago, Vaishno Devi, a devotee of Lord Vishnu had taken a vow of celibacy. Bhairon Nath, a tantric tried to stop her. Through his tantric powers, he visualised her going towards the Trikuta hills and gave chase. The goddess felt thirsty at Banganga and shot an arrow into the earth from where water gushed out. Charan Paduka, marked by the imprints of her feet, is one of the places of worship enroute to the summit of the mountain. The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Adhkawari, halfway from Katra to the top of Trikuta hill. It took Bhairon Nath nine months to locate her, which is why the cave is also known as Garbh Joon. When he finally found her performing penance, a battle ensued in which Vaishnodevi assumed the form of Maha Kali and cut off the former’s head which was flung atop the mountain. This is where the Bhairon Temple is currently sited.   
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Geography and Climate of Katra city
Katra is located at 32.98° N 74.95° E. It has an average elevation of 754 metres or 2473 feet.Katra town is located at an altitude of nearly 2500 ft above sea level.In winter minimum teperature is 03°C and maximum teperature is 15°C.1n summer minimum teperature is 20°C and maximum teperature is 40°C.Light woollens are required at night even during summer. During the remaining parts of the year heavy woollens are required. As of 2001 India census, Katra had a population of 7569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Katra has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 65%. In Katra, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.   
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Economy of Katra city
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Flora and Fauna of Katra city
The place is rich in flora and fauna.The flora ranges from the thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes.Of the broad-leaf trees, there are maple, horse chestnuts, silver fir, etc. At the higher altitudes, there are birch, rhododendron, and a large number of herbal plants.The birds includes ducks, goose, partridge, chakor, pheasant,peacock, wagtails, herons, water pigeons, warblers, and doves.Animal includes cheetah and deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, and muskrat,varieties of snakes, bats, lizards and frogs etc.
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