Katra railway station is a train station on the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It belongs to the Firozpur Division of Northern Railway zone in Jammu and Kashmir. It serves Katra town and the Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.
In 1898, Maharana Rana Prathap Singh first explored to connect Jammu with Srinagar. But due to non-co ordination and other reasons, it stopped.
In April 2005, the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link was completed up to Udhampur Railway Station from Jammu side and up to Banihal Railway Station from Srinagar side. Pirpanjal railway tunnel was completed and testing was being conducted in 2012. The rail link was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 July 2014 at 10:00 A.M. This means that Katra is currently the northern terminus of the southern section of the Kashmir Railway as well as the northernmost place accessible on the contiguous network of Indian Railways
The Ground Floor of Katra railway station has escalaors, lifts, current reservation, second class booking, train enquiry section, pilgrim guide,tourist assistance, VIP lounge, a fully air-conditioned hotel with a shopping lounge, multi-cuisine restaurant, cloak room, waiting hall, a book stall, tea stall, toilet blocks, and catering area. The first floor accommodates 8 retiring rooms and a cafeteria. A huge parking place also constructed to accommodate cars and passenger buses.
About Vaishno Devi:
Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani, Trikuta and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Hindu Mother Goddess Mahalakshmi. The words “maa” and “mata” are commonly used in India for “mother”, and thus are often used in connection with Vaishno Devi. Vaishno Devi Mandir (Hindi: वैष्णोदेवी मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess, located at the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Coins:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released coins with Maa Vaishno Devi’s image on the Head side of the coins.
Some Trains Originate and passes through Katra railway station
Yesvantpur Suvidha Superfast Express
Katra Sarvodaya S/F Express
Katra Sindhu S/F Express
Katra Swaraj Express
Katra Ahmedabad Katra Express
New Delhi Uttar Sampark Kranti Express
Katra Durgavati Express
Katra Navyug Express
Katra Himsagar Express
Katra Andaman Express
Katra Special Express
Katra DEMU
Katra Passenger